The Dolphins (0-4) scored midway through the second half and kept pressure on the Paladins (4-0) but were unable to convert the final ball in the JU Invitational.

“We have to come out quicker in the first half,” said head coach Brian Copham. “I’m really proud of the effort that we put forth in the second half but, against good teams, you have to play 90 minutes. ”

In the first minute of the game, Furman won a corner that was headed in by Megan Zusi off a delivery by Sara El-Shami. The Paladins kept applying the pressure in the third minute when Martha Hall collected a pass from Chelsea McKie in the box and drove home a low shot into the right side of the net.

The Dolphins saw very few opportunities in the first half, being outshot by the Paladins 7-2.

The second half saw JU apply pressure often in the attacking third for a thrilling 45 minutes. Junior Jelena Vrcelj fired a shot from outside the box which narrowly skirted the left post in the 63rd minute. Vrcelj then found herself with space in the box five minutes later, but her shot was saved by Jessica Smith.

The Dolphins struck in the 70th minute when Lisa Hensley fired a shot from the top of the box. The ball was saved but began bouncing towards the line. After being cleared off the line, freshman Emily Culbreth buried the ball for the first goal of her career. In the 74th minute, the Dolphins were awarded a free kick that was delivered by Jessica Hurtado but the ball was cleared out of the box.

A final push from JU was made in the last five minutes but goal scoring opportunities did not present themselves. The Dolphins are back at the Ashley Sports Complex on Sunday at 2 p.m. where they will face Georgia Southern.