DUKES SHUT OUT BOBCATS 3-0 IN FIELD HOCKEY

Sunday, September 3

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

Ohio

9/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

HARRISONBURG, Va., Sunday, Sept. 3 - Sophomore Melissa Walls (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) recorded two first half assists and senior Maureen Klingler (State College, Pa./State College) had a goal and an assist to propel #18 James Madison University to a 3-0 win over Ohio University at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.

JMU (3-1), ranked 18^th nationally in the STX/NFHCA preseason coaches poll, scored what proved to be the game-winner 10 minutes into the contest when Walls fed a pass to the right to Klingler. Klingler knocked it home for the early lead over Ohio(1-3), a team receiving votes outside the top 20 in the NFHCA poll.

Walls picked up her second assist with 14 minutes remaining in the half when she drove uncontested up the left side of the field and passed right to her sister, sophomore Ashley Walls (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional), who scored her third goal of the season to tie for the team lead.

The Dukes added their final goal with three minutes remaining when senior Baillie Versfeld (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe/Dominican Convent) connected off of a penalty corner. Sophomore Melissa Stefaniak (Plymouth, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) started the corner and Klingler made the stick stop to give each an assist on the goal.

"I was very pleased with the effort today," commented JMU head coach Antoinette Lucas after the win. "We had a disappointing loss against Carolina on Saturday. We hoped to get the win there, but we're glad to come out of the weekend 1-1. We knew Ohio was going to be more talented than the nation was giving them credit for."

Junior Merel Broekhuizen (Groningen, The Netherlands/Maartens College) played the first half in goal with no saves. Freshman Kelsey Cutchins (Suffolk, Va./Lakeland) took the second half and made two stops. Sophomore Jessie Martin (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) made four saves in goal for the Bobcats.

JMU led Ohio in shots 13-8, including an 8-3 edge in the first period. Both teams had four penalty corners.

The Dukes continue their four-match home stand on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. against 16^th-ranked Michigan State University.