#13 Virginia Rallies Past JMU for 10-9 Win

Wednesday, March 23

Charlottesville, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

4-6, 0-0

Virginia

5-5, 0-3

James Madison

Virginia

3/23/2016 10:03:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – James Madison built a three-goal lead in the first half but Virginia outscored the Dukes 7-3 over the final 30 minutes to rally for a 10-9 women's lacrosse victory on Wednesday night at Klöckner Stadium.

The Cavaliers snapped their four-game losing streak, improving to 5-5, while the Dukes fell to 4-6 in 2016.

Senior midfielder Brooks Lawler tied her career high with three goals while senior midfielder Jaci Gordon and sophomore midfielder Haley Warden both notched two scores. Freshman goalkeeper Ellie Harmeyer made a game-high seven saves, all in the second half while sophomore defender Rebecca Tooker corralled a career-best four draw controls.

Virginia outshot JMU 18-17, including a 17-13 mark in shots on goal. The Dukes won the draw control by an 11-10 margin but the Cavaliers held an 8-3 advantage in the second half. UVa had four players score twice as Posey Valis had a team-high three points on two goals and an assist. Kasey Behr scored twice, including the game winner, while Kelly Boyd and Kelly Reese both found the cage twice.

JMU surged out to a 4-1 lead less than 14 minutes into the game as the Dukes dominated the draw by an 8-2 ledger to control the pace of the opening 30. Virginia cut its deficit to two twice but a last-minute free-position goal by Warden gave JMU a 6-3 halftime lead.

Virginia controlled the draw from the early going in the second and was able to erase JMU's lead, scoring four of the game's first five of the half to tie it at 7-7 with 19:44 remaining. The Cavs took their first lead of the night less than 90 seconds later on a Avery Shoemaker free-position shot, giving the hosts an 8-7 lead with 18:16 to go. JMU answered twice, tying the game at 9-9 with over five minutes to play but Behr's game winner from the left wing with 3:04 to play was difference for UVa.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH COACH

TALE OF TWO HALVES
The first half was controlled by JMU, due in large part to an 8-2 advantage on the draw control. The Dukes outshot Virginia 9-4 to earn a 6-3 halftime lead. Roles reversed in the second half as the Cavaliers won the draw control, 8-3 and unloaded 14 shots, to JMU's eight, resulting in a 7-3 run by the hosts.

TOOKER WINNING THE DRAW
It was a career night for Rebecca Tooker on the draw control as the defender claimed four, which also led all players in the ball game. Her previous best was three at Colorado, which is the amount she had in the first half alone tonight.

ONE-GOAL BATTLES
JMU has done a nice job playing up to its opponents this season as this was the third one-goal loss of the season. The previous two were at Colorado (14-15 OT) and against No. 9 Penn State (17-18 OT).

UP NEXT
JMU returns to action on Saturday, March 26 with a 2 p.m. meeting against No. 1 Maryland in College Park. The game concludes non-conference play as the Dukes open Colonial Athletic Association action the following weekend on Saturday, April 2 against William & Mary.