JMU Falls to Top-Ranked Maryland in Final Non-Conference Game

Saturday, March 26

College Park, Md.

2 P.M.

James Madison University

4-7

Maryland

8-0

James Madison

Maryland

JMU Falls to Top-Ranked Maryland in Final Non-Conference Game

3/26/2016 4:11:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The top-ranked Maryland women's lacrosse team used a sizeable first-half run to pull away from James Madison as the Dukes fell 18-6 in their non-conference finale on Saturday afternoon at the Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. The Terrapins improved to 8-0 on the year while the Dukes dropped to 4-7.

Sophomore midfielder Haley Warden led the Dukes with three points on two goals and an assist while senior attacker Betsy Angel scored twice. Senior midfielder Jaci Gordon found the cage just once but turned in career highs of four ground balls and three caused turnovers.

All three goalkeepers saw action Saturday as freshman Ellie Harmeyer made five saves on 17 shots on goal in the first half. Junior Emily Poelma played the first 20-plus minutes of the second half, making four saves on nine shots on goal, and redshirt sophomore Kaitlin Martindale conceded one goal in the final 9:55.

The Terps held a 32-13 shots advantage, including 27-11 on goal. The squads tied 13-13 on the draw control and combined for 25 caused turnovers, 35 ground balls and 33 turnovers in the fast-paced, physical contest.

Megan Whittle led Maryland with a game-high five goals while Taylor Cummings had three goals, two assists and seven draw controls. Four other Terrapins tallied two points in the win.

The Terrapins jumped out to an early 4-0 lead just over seven minutes into the game, capitalizing on five JMU turnovers. The Dukes answered back, due in large part to success on the draw control, which JMU won six of the first eight. Junior attacker Margaret Tucker Fogarty opened JMU's scoring 9:25 into the game and Angel and Warden followed suit with goals to trim the deficit to 4-3 with 18:43 left in the half. Maryland won the next eight draw controls and scored eight straight to lead 13-3 at the break.

JMU went without a goal for over 35 minutes while Maryland's lead grew to 16-3 until Angel scored her second of the game off a nice pass from Warden with 13:26 to play. JMU added two tallies late off shots from Gordon and Warden.

QUOTING COACH KLAES-BAWCOMBE
"I thought our turnovers today really killed us. We battled on the draw, it was even 13-13, but we had 20 turnovers and that's completely out of character for us. I give Maryland credit, they have great speed and tenacity but we weren't able to slow the game down and just play. We had some really great defensive stops in the first half and weren't able to execute and get the ball over to the attacking end. When we had the ball in the attacking end we did fairly well."

COACH'S POSTGAME INTERVIEW

JACI WITH THE HUSTLE
Jaci Gordon was busy in the midfield as she collected career highs in both caused turnovers and ground balls. Gordon tallied four ground balls, tying her single-game best, and caused three Maryland turnovers. She also won a pair of draw controls, one off her career high.

CAUSING TROUBLE FOR THE OPPOSITION
JMU forced one of the nation's best offensive units into 13 turnovers, 12 of which were caused. Aside from Gordon's three, Taylor Gress, Emily Pillion and Rebecca Tooker each caused two turnovers. Maryland entered the game averaging just over nine giveaways per outing.

UP NEXT
JMU opens Colonial Athletic Association play on Saturday, April 2 when it hosts William & Mary. First draw is set for 2 p.m. from University Park.