No. 17 James Madison Wins CAA Title with 13-6 Victory Over Towson

Sunday, May 3

Newark, Del.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

15-4

Towson

9-9

Towson

James Madison

No. 17 James Madison Wins CAA Title with 13-6 Victory Over Towson

5/3/2015 3:28:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. – No. 17 James Madison captured its ninth Colonial Athletic Association lacrosse title with a 13-6 victory over three-time defending champion Towson, May 3. Winning their seventh straight game, the Dukes pick up their third CAA title under Head Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe in her sixth appearance in the championship game, as well as the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.

Trailing 4-2 with just under 16 minutes to play in the first half, JMU (15-4) shut down the Towson (9-9) offense, as the Dukes outscored the Tigers 11-2 over the final 45 minutes, led senior goalie Schylar Healy's nine saves. JMU's offense also got on track, as six of the seven scorers tallied multiple goals, led by senior midfielder Alison Curwin and junior midfielder Jaci Gordon with three goals each. Gordon added an assist, as the Dukes had five assists on the day.

Towson was led by attacker Andi Raymond with two goals and two assists, while Michelle Gildea scored twice. Donnelly had seven saves between the pipes for the Tigers.

For the match, JMU outshot Towson 28-22, including 20-15 in shots on goal. Towson held a slight advantage in draw controls, 11-10, but the Dukes forced more turnovers, 10-8, and held a 14-11 margin on ground balls.

Towson got on the board first on Gildea's goal just 1:32 into the game, but Madison got the equalizer on Curwin's goal on the assist from Leah Monticello to tie the game at one with 25:39 left in the first. The Tigers three of the next four goals of the match, the last on Kaitlyn Montalbano's goal with 15:31 to play in the opening period, to lead 4-2.

However, the Dukes took over from there, scoring six straight goals to end the first half, including Monticello's goal with four seconds left in the half, to lead 8-4 at halftime. Towson scored the first goal of the second half, as Raymond found the back of the net a minute and a half in to make it 7-5 JMU, but that would be the last goal for either team for almost 16 minutes. Senior attacker Stephanie Finley added one with 12:46 left to make it 8-5, but Towson scored again less than two minutes later to make it 9-6. That would be the last goal for the Tigers, as Madison maintained most of the control of the ball the remainder of the game and scored the final four goals in the last 4:20 to seal the victory.

JMU placed four players on the All-Tournament team – Finley, Gordon and Healy with Curwin named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Madison will find out at 9 p.m. tonight where they will open the NCAA Tournament with a live Selection Show on NCAA.com.