OFFENSE CARRIES #7 JMU PAST HOFSTRA 7-3

Sunday, October 5

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

Hofstra

10/5/2008 4:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

HARRISONBURG, Va., Oct. 5, 2008 ? James Madison had its highest offensive output of the season with a 7-3 victory over Hofstra in a Colonial Athletic Association field hockey match on Sunday afternoon at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.

JMU, ranked seventh in the STX/NFHCA coaches poll, improved to 10-1 on the season and remained in first place in the CAA at 4-0. HU fell to 7-3 overall and 1-2 in the league.

Senior Lauren Walls (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) accounted for two goals and one assist to pace the JMU offense, which led Hofstra in shots 34-6. It was the highest shot output for the Dukes in five seasons under head coach Antoinette Lucas' direction. The previous mark was 33 against Longwood in 2005.

In addition to Walls, senior Melissa Stefaniak (Plymouth, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) also posted two goals while sophomore Dolores de Rooij (Vlaardingen, The Netherlands/Erasmiaans) had a goal and an assist. Junior Meghan Bain (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) and senior Ashley Walls (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) also had goals and sophomore Randi Segear (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Coughlin) as well as senior Melissa Walls (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) added assists.

Hofstra received a pair of goals from junior Kristin Thompson and one score from senior Charlia Warner. Senior Britt Blankmeyer, sophomore Amy-Lee Levey, and junior Reyna Farnum accounted for assists.

In addition to the shot advantage, JMU led Hofstra in penalty corners 10-2. Freshman Amanda Heyde made 11 saves for the Pride while junior Kelsey Cutchins (Suffolk, Va./Lakeland) went the distance with no saves for Dukes.

The key point for JMU came in the final minute of the first half. Clutching onto a narrow 3-2 advantage, the Dukes struck on a pair of quick goals. De Rooij passed across the cage to the left and Stefaniak sent it home for the score. Then only a few seconds later, Ashley Walls fired