Dukes Score Twice Late to Beat Denver, 9-7

Saturday, March 5

Denver, Colo.

1:30 p.m. ET

James Madison University

2-4 (0-0CAA)

Denver

2-3 (1-1MPSF)

James Madison

Denver

3/5/2016 5:09:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score

DENVER, Colo. – James Madison tallied two goals over the final 1:13 to upend Denver 9-7 for its first road win of the season on Saturday afternoon at the Barton Lacrosse Stadium. The Dukes improved to 2-4 this season while the Pioneers fell to 2-3 in 2016.

Denver tied the game at 7-7 with 1:21 remaining but senior midfielder Brooks Lawler won the ensuing draw and quickly found senior attacker Betsy Angel for the eventual game-winning goal with 1:13 to play. The Dukes struck again 13 seconds later immediately following another draw control, with senior midfielder Jaci Gordon finding the cage for the insurance score.

Lawler led JMU with four points on two free-position goals and two assists while Gordon scored a team-best three goals for her third hat trick of the season. Angel produced multiple goals for the fourth time this season as she added two.

Freshman Danielle Harmeyer picked up her first win in the cage after making five saves on 12 shots faced. Defensively, JMU made it difficult for Denver's offense to find a rhythm, limiting the hosts to just 15 total shots and 12 on goal. The Dukes also dominated the draw control by a 13-5 margin, including a career-best five by Lawler. JMU also picked up 11 ground balls, to DU's nine. Senior defender Emily Pillion also had a career day in the defensive third, causing three turnovers.

"Our defense was totally solid today," Head Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe said. "They connected and were pressuring out, making plays on the defensive end and giving our offense the chances they needed. Our defensive play and draw controls are what won us the game today."

Christa Reese led the Pioneers with a game-high five goals while Caitlin Derry contributed three assists. JMU outshot Denver 25-15, including 17-12 in shots on goal as Maddy Stevenson took the loss in cage after making eight saves.

In what was a slow-paced game, Denver utilized the zone to take a 3-1 lead with 11:54 remaining in the first half. The Dukes closed the frame with two of three scores to trail 4-3 at the break. Nearly 13 minutes into the second half, JMU struck for three straight goals in a 2:01 span to gain a 6-4 advantage with 15:21 to go. DU tied the game until JMU's late rally.

QUOTING COACH KLAES-BAWCOMBE
"We did so well on the draw today, we were really confident we could win that ball and Jaci really put the team on her shoulders. I'm really proud of Brooks, Betsy and Jaci playing knowing how to have that killer instinct when the game was on the line."

DEFENSE CLAMPS DOWN
JMU's defense was a key to victory on Saturday, causing nine turnovers and holding Denver without a goal for over 23 minutes between the first and second halves. Emily Pillion caused three of the turnovers, which was a career high for the senior defender.

WINNING THE DRAW
The Dukes found a rhythm on the draw control against Denver, holding a dominant 13-5 advantage, which included winning six of the first seven. Brooks Lawler garnered a career-best five draw controls as she won two of the game's final three.

UP NEXT
JMU returns home for a pair of game next week. The Dukes host Penn State on Wednesday, March 9 at 4 p.m., followed by a matchup against Richmond on Saturday, March 12 at 1 p.m.

"We return to Harrisonburg a very different team," Klaes-Bawcombe said. "We're stronger defensively, we're fighting for 50-50 balls again and they're working hard to come together as a unit."