There’s a new team atop the Atlantic Sun.
Coastal Carolina has dethroned Jacksonville, winner of the last six ASUN championships, after a 10-9 title game on Saturday at Jacksonville’s Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins entered the tournament as the top seed, but the second-seeded Chanticleers got three goals from Monica Manley and nine saves from Charlotte Sadler to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament — and their first-ever trip to the dance.
Coastal Carolina broke through in the third quarter after Jacksonville got goals from Jenna Peed and Hudson Gentile to take a 6-5 lead.
Avery McIlwaine, Evelyn Kitchen and Alyson Mascolo put together a 3-0 run for the Chants, which took an 8-7 lead into the fourth quarter after Brianna Samuels beat the buzzer to get Jacksonville within a goal.
Manley saved her best for the fourth quarter, scoring the first two goals of the period for a 10-7 lead and enough of a cushion for Coastal to stave off the Dolphins.
Samuels made it 10-9 with 1:42 to play, but Sydney Tornetta won the next draw, and the Chanticleers took a timeout with 1:07 left. They iced the game from there.
Coastal Carolina did well to upset the tournament’s top seed, especially considering the statistical advantages on offense. Jacksonville outshot the Chants 32-22 (18-15 on goal).
