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The Jacksonville Dolphins are the 15th Division I team in our 2018 schedule preview series and the third team from the Southern Conference. After starting the season 0-9, the Dolphins managed to win three of their final four games to make it to the SoCon Tournament, where they fell to eventual champion Air Force.
Here’s the entire 2018 schedule:
Jacksonville’s 2018 Schedule
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
| 1/26 | Tampa (D2) | Jacksonville | Scrimmage | |
| 2/4 | Navy | Jacksonville | First meeting since 2012 (second overall) | |
| 2/10 | Jacksonville | Duke | 13-6 L | |
| 2/17 | Jacksonville | Marquette | 17-1 L | |
| 2/20 | Detroit Mercy | Jacksonville | 12-11 L | |
| 2/25 | Ohio State | Jacksonville | 16-8 L | |
| 3/3 | Jacksonville | Vermont | In Baltimore, Maryland; Didn't meet last season (Dolphins won 17-16 in 2016) | |
| 3/17 | Mercer | Jacksonville | SoCon | 13-7 W |
| 3/24 | Bellarmine | Jacksonville | SoCon | 17-11 W |
| 3/31 | Jacksonville | High Point | SoCon | 13-9 L |
| 4/7 | Air Force | Jacksonville | SoCon | 10-9 L/OT; 11-8 L |
| 4/14 | Jacksonville | Richmond | SoCon | 13-6 L |
| 4/21 | Jacksonville | Furman | SoCon | 15-9 L |
| 4/28 | VMI | Jacksonville | SoCon | 16-10 W |
Off the schedule are Lehigh and Hartford. In comes Navy and Vermont. The Dolphins and Midshipmen haven’t played since 2012, while JU did not play Vermont last season after edging them by a goal in 2016.
Let’s check out some notable games on this schedule:
Best Non Conference Game: vs. Detroit Mercy
Jacksonville and Detroit Mercy are two teams in the middle of their respective conferences. Both teams finished fourth in their conference last year before losing to their eventual conference champions in the semifinals. The Titans edged the Dolphins by a goal last year in Pontiac with two goals late in the game. Expect a good one, and possibly Jacksonville gets their first earlier in the season.
Best Conference Game: vs. Air Force
For their 3-11 record, Jacksonville played Air Force up to the final second of both of their meetings last year. That was a decent surprise to see, and this year could be something a little different, especially with what’s going on with the situation at Air Force.
Under The Radar Game: @ High Point
Last year was a bad season for the Panthers, finishing 4-10 on the season and missing their first ever conference tournament (they were an independent in 2013). But they did beat the Dolphins by four goals last year in Florida. This could help decide seeding for the SoCon Tournament.
Possible Upset: vs. Navy
Early season meeting could mean an early season shocker? Navy’s in Florida, and they might get a little too comfortable on their run towards revenge in 2018? It’d be a great start for John Galloway and the Dolphins as they start the season, and will certainly give them confidence and maybe some top 20 votes.