Dukes Dominate Monarchs for Second Straight AAC Win

Saturday, March 22

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

6-3, 2-0AAC

Old Dominion

8-4, 1-1AAC

Old Dominion

James Madison

3/22/2025 5:46:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. -- #14 James Madison lacrosse led wire-to-wire and commanded all aspects of play in an 18-3 win over Old Dominion in AAC action on Saturday afternoon at Sentara Park.

Brianna Mennella and Kaitlyn Carney led the JMU (6-3, 2-0 AAC) attack with hat tricks with Mennella providing one assist, caused turnover, and ground ball respectively. Olivia Matthews and Maddie Epke each recorded a pair of goals, as Epke won 14 draw controls.

Defensively, Ava Bleckley and Carolyn Thistlewaite caused two turnovers each, while Reese Cuviello (four) and Ava Main (three) led the way in ground balls for JMU, who allowed a season-low three goals. JMU won the draw battle (19-4) for the sixth time this season, including a 15-0 first half mark.

Adanya Moyer made her fifth start in the cage and made a pair of saves on four shots faced in one half of play. Caitlin Boden entered the cage at the start of the third and made three saves without allowing a goal in just over 22 minutes of action, while Abigail Beattie finished the game making her first career saves and allowing one goal.

Callie Culhane, Ella Bowen, and Kylie O'Donnell were the goal scorers for ODU (8-4, 1-1 AAC). Gracyn Roth caused two turnovers for the Monarch defense. Brynn Bowen made the start in cage and made 11 saves in 45 minutes of play while Hannah Shaddock finished the contest with one save.

First Quarter – James Madison 6, Old Dominion 1

Maggie Clark got the scoring going for JMU with a goal 21 seconds into the game. Matthews netted another two minutes later before ODU scored its lone goal of the quarter.
Mennella and Epke would each record a pair of goals to give the Dukes a 6-1 lead after the opening frame.

Second Quarter – James Madison 11, Old Dominion 2

Lauren Savage began the second stanza with a score, followed by two from Carney to make it 9-1 JMU with 10:35 to go in the period.
The Dukes took advantage of seven ODU turnovers and only allowed four shots in the first half to hold a comfortable 11-2 halftime lead.

Third Quarter – James Madison 13, Old Dominion 2

JMU caused three turnovers in the third frame as scoring stalled on both sides for most of the period. Josie Pell and Payton Root recorded goals in the final five minutes of the quarter to carry JMU into the final frame up 13-2.

Fourth Quarter – James Madison 18, Old Dominion 3

The Dukes kept their foot on the gas as Maya Antonakas scored in the opening minute of the fourth while JMU continued its dominance on the draw. Harlowe Healey entered the circle and helped the Dukes win the draw battle in the period (4-2).
Old Dominion grabbed one more score while four more Dukes netted goals in the closing quarter.

Game notes

Maddie Epke has recorded at least one goal in 28 straight games, while Cloe Bleckley continued her streak of recording at least one point in every game this season.
Carolyn Thistlewaite eclipsed 50 career caused turnovers in the win.
The Dukes allowed a season-low in goals (three), assists (one), shots (12), shots on goal (nine), and draw controls (four).
Three goals is a career-high for Kaitlyn Carney and ties a career-high for Brianna Mennella. Payton root provided a career-high three assists.
Root and Maya Antonakas both netted their first career goals.
JMU has won the draw battle in six out of nine games, and improved its record to 5-1 when leading in draws. The Dukes also shutout an opponent in a quarter for the fourth time this season and improved its record to 4-0 when doing so.
With today's win, JMU extends its lead over ODU to 10.0 to 3.0 in the TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge. This is also JMU's ninth straight win against ODU in head-to-head competition across all sports since early November.

Up next
#14 JMU will continue its homestand against #7 Johns Hopkins on Wednesday, March 26th. Opening draw is set for 5 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.