#7 JMU Grinds Out 10-7 Triumph Against Rutgers

Sunday, March 10

Harrisonburg, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

6-1

Rutgers

4-4

Rutgers

James Madison

3/10/2019 3:41:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery Highlights

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Seventh-ranked James Madison limited Rutgers to just one second-half goal and scored three straight in the final 5:15 to hold on for a 10-7 victory in non-conference women's lacrosse action Sunday afternoon at Sentara Park.

The Dukes win for the sixth time in a row to improve to 6-1 on the year, while the Scarlet Knights even their record at 4-4.

"It was a total team effort," Head Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe said. "In the first half when our defense was a little down, the attack stepped up. In the second half, the attack was struggling a little bit and the defense really stepped up. I'm impressed with our ability to have each other's backs and when the game was on the line, we did what it took to win."

Senior attacker Hanna Haven led the way with three goals and an assist to eclipse the 100-goal mark in her career (101). Sophomore midfielder Charlotte Haggerty scored two free-position goals, and freshman midfielder Lizzie Fox contributed one goal, one assist and career highs of three caused turnovers and two ground balls.

With the game tied 6-6 at the break, defense shined for both teams in the second half, as the teams managed a combined five goals. JMU took a 7-6 lead with 19:35 to play on an unassisted goal by Haven, but the Scarlet Knights knotted it up with 7:49 to play.

Just over two minutes later, Rutgers made a pair of point-blank saves, but during the clear, sophomore attacker Daria Lucchesi caused one of her two turnovers in the midfield, and freshman midfielder Mairead Durkin scored in transition to put JMU up 8-7 with 5:15 to play. The Dukes won the next two draw controls, leading to quick goals by junior midfielder Kelsey Reed and Lucchesi to put the game away.

"We had a long stretch without a goal, but what a great defensive effort by Daria in the ride to create a 1-v-goalie chance for Mairead to show we could finish," Klaes-Bawcombe said. "We had been feeding off our defense, and scoring that goal is what we needed to get over the hump. Our shots kept hitting their goalie and we needed to find a way to compete with her, and once we did that, the offense was able to play freely down the stretch."

For the second time this season, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Molly Dougherty conceded just one goal in a single half, as she finished with nine saves to average 14.0 stops per game in JMU's 2-0 week. Junior defender Emma Johnson and junior attacker Maddie McDaniel each collected three ground balls.

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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

JMU out-shot Rutgers 35-33, which included a 21-11 advantage in the second half. The Dukes also had a 21-16 lead in shots on goal.
The Dukes controlled each hustle-stat category, finishing with leads in draw controls (12-7), caused turnovers (8-6) and ground balls (17-13). In the second half, JMU won five of six draw controls, as McDaniel tied for game-high honors with four.
JMU had just five second-half turnovers, compared to RU's 12.
The Dukes never trailed, but the game featured four ties and a trio of 3-0 scoring runs, with the final 3-0 spurt coming by JMU to clinch the win.
JMU was a perfect 19-of-19 on clears, while Rutgers was 21-of-26.
Rutgers was led by Taralyn Naslonski, who scored three goals. Samantha Budd had a goal and two assists, and Kameron Halsall had nine of her game-high 11 saves in the second half.

UP NEXT
JMU returns to action next Saturday, March 16 when it hosts Temple. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Sentara Park, and the game will be streamed on MadiZONE HD SportsNet.