CHAMPIONS! JMU Stifles BC for First Lacrosse National Title

Sunday, May 27

Stony Brook, N.Y.

Noon

James Madison University

22-1

Boston College

22-2

Boston College

James Madison

CHAMPIONS! JMU Stifles BC for First Lacrosse National Title

5/27/2018 2:47:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery Postgame Quotes All-Tournament Team

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – James Madison held Boston College scoreless for over 15 minutes in the second half and staved off a late charge to capture the program's first NCAA Division I National Championship, 16-15, on Sunday afternoon at Stony Brook's LaValle Stadium.

In its first appearance in the national title game, third-seeded JMU topped fourth-seeded BC, which finished as runner up for the second consecutive season. The Dukes finished with a school-record for victories at 22-1 and went 6-0 against the ACC.

Four Dukes tallied hat tricks in the victory, led by NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player Haley Warden with four. Junior Hanna Haven and seniors Kristen Gaudian and Elena Romesburg each tallied three. Redshirt freshman Molly Dougherty made seven saves to earn the win in goal.

SECOND-HALF PUSH

From a 8-8 halftime tie, the Eagles scored the first two goals for a 10-8 advantage
JMU's defense took over, holding BC out of the goal for 15:24 from the 10-8 lead at 26:23 until the 10:59 mark
Four different Dukes scored during the four-goal run, started by Haven with the tying goal from Maddie McDaniel, the go-ahead goal from Romesburg and another tally from Gaudian
Once BC stopped the run with a goal from Dempsey Arsenault, Warden took over with a pair of tallies for a 14-11 advantage
The Eagles had a counter attack left, fighting through a man-down situation with a pair of strikes to make it a one-score game at 14-13
Gaudian and Kaileen Hart traded tallies to make it 15-14
Off a BC draw control, JMU came up with a huge caused turnover from Katie Kerrigan and Warden put away the game clincher at the 1:05 mark
BC won the draw and scored again with 22 seconds remaining, but Warden claimed the ensuing draw to allow the Dukes to run out the clock
That draw-control win was the 108th for Warden this season, setting a new single-season conference record.

FOURTH JMU NATIONAL TITLE
James Madison captured its fourth NCAA Division I National Championship in program history, a list that now includes field hockey (1994), football (2004, 2016) and women's lacrosse (2018).

WARDEN EARNS MOP STATUS
Haley Warden scored four goals in the title win and nine for the weekend to be named the NCAA Championship's Most Outstanding Performer. Joining her on the NCAA All-Tournament Team were Kristen Gaudian, Hanna Haven and Molly Dougherty.

GAME PHOTOS - FULL GALLERY
92711

A NEW CHAMPION IS CROWNED
JMU won its first national championship after earning its sixth victory of the year against the ACC. It marked the first time since 2004 that the national champion in Division I women's lacrosse was not named Maryland, North Carolina or Northwestern.

QUITE THE SENIOR SEND OFF
JMU's seniors closed out their careers in historic fashion. The group of eight senior Dukes completed their collegiate careers with a 61-23 record. They are the third class to win three conference championships and make four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!

Dukes knock off Boston College 16-15 to claim their first every @NCAALAX title! #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/Ut8BhpL2x6
— JMU Lacrosse (@JMULacrosse) May 27, 2018