#8 JMU HOLDS ON AGAINST CALIFORNIA 2-1

Sunday, October 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

noon

James Madison University

California

10/7/2007 6:00:00 PM | Field Hockey

HARRISONBURG, Va., Oct. 7, 2007 ? James Madison University scored two first-half goals and survived a second half dominated by the University of California to pick up a 2-1 non-conference field hockey victory on Sunday afternoon at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.

JMU, ranked eighth in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, improved to 11-2 while California fell to 8-3. The Dukes improved to 4-0 all-time against the Golden Bears. The 11-2 record is the best start for JMU since the 1995 squad opened 13-2.

JMU jumped out to the early lead with two goals in a span of six minutes in the first half. Junior Melissa Stefaniak (Plymouth, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) received a long pass in the circle and got around her defender to fire a shot from the right side 15 minutes into the period. It was Stefaniak's sixth goal of the season to tie for the team lead. It was also her third game-winning goal. Junior Lauren Walls (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) had the assist, her team-leading sixth of the season.

Stefaniak also factored into the second JMU goal. On a breakaway play, she sent a long pass from just in front of midfield to the upper left side of the circle. Freshman Dolores de Rooij (Vlaardingen, The Netherlands/Erasmiaans) received the pass and sent it into the netting for her fourth goal of the season and a 2-0 lead.

Cal got one back six minutes later on one of six first-half penalty corners. Junior Christina McGrath (San Jose, Calf./St. Franci) shot from the top of the circle with assists going to junior Rachel Moffitt (San Diego, Calif./Juniperro Serra) on the stick stop and junior Andrea Lo (West Vancouver, Canada/West Vancouver), who started play from the baseline. It was McGrath's third goal of the season.

The Golden Bears dominated the second half of play, leading in shots 15-1 and penalty corners 9-0. But JMU's defense held on, led by sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Cutchins (Suffolk, Va./Lakeland) with six of her eight saves in the second half. She entered the week leading the nation in save percentage.