EIGHTH-RANKED WOMEN'S LACROSSE LOSES 12-9 AT HOFSTRA

Friday, April 27

Hempstead, N.Y.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

Hofstra

4/27/2007 4:00:00 AM | Lacrosse

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., April 27, 2007 -- Hofstra beat eighth-ranked James Madison 12-9 in Colonial Athletic Association women's lacrosse Friday evening.

In a battle of the top two teams in the CAA standings, the Pride rallied from a three-goal first-half deficit to earn the win and the number one seed for the upcoming CAA Tournament. As the top seed Hofstra will host the tournament, scheduled for May 4 & 6.

JMU, the defending CAA champion, will be seeded either second or third in the tournament, depending on the outcome of the Dukes' April 29 league game at George Mason. A JMU win over Mason gives the Dukes the number two seed, while a loss would give the second seed to Delaware. Old Dominion has clinched the number four seed.

Hofstra improved to 10-5 overall and 6-1 in the CAA, while JMU dropped to 11-4 overall and 4-2 in league play.

The Dukes jumped out to a 4-1 lead 10:34 into the match with two goals by junior Annie Wagner (Annapolis, Md./St. Paul's) and one each from seniors Maria Bosica (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) and Kelly Berger (Columbia, Md./Hammond)

However, Hofstra outscored the Dukes 3-1 in the final 18:26 of the period to close the margin to 5-4 at intermission. Senior Kimberly Hillier scored twice and Casey McGrath once for the Pride.

In the second half, JMU senior Lynlea Cronin (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake) scored just 56 seconds into the period for a 6-4 Dukes' lead.

But McGrath and Hillier tallied back-to-back goals in a span of just 10 seconds to tie the game at 6-6 with 26:14 on the clock.

A Wagner goal 17 seconds later gave the Dukes a 7-6 lead at 25:57.

Then Hofstra ran off five straight goals over a span of just under 11 minutes to build an insurmountable 11-8 advantage with 11:54 remaining. Becky Thorn scored three times and freshman Corrine Gandolfi twice.

JMU closed to 11-9 on a goal by junior Emily Haller (Fallston, Md./John Carroll) at 7:21, then Hofstra's McGrath finished off the scoring with an unassisted goal at 2:39 for the final 12-9 margin.

Shots were even at 25 for each team, and both JMU junior goalkeeper Kelly Wetzel (Catonsville, Md./Mount De Sales) and Hofstra goalie Maisie Osteen made eight saves.