Dukes Dominate Tribe 17-4 in CAA-Opening Win

Saturday, April 2

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

5-7 (1-0CAA)

William & Mary

6-5 (0-1CAA)

William & Mary

James Madison

4/2/2016 3:30:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison held William & Mary scoreless in the first half and led by as many as 16 goals, cruising to a 17-4 Colonial Athletic Association women's lacrosse victory on Saturday afternoon at University Park.

The Dukes improved to 5-7 (1-0 CAA) while the Tribe dropped to 6-5 (0-1 CAA). The win was also the largest for JMU against W&M in the 42-year history of the rivalry, with the previous best being an 11-goal win (18-7 in 2013).

Senior attacker Betsy Angel scored four goals and tied her career highs for both assists, with four, and points, with eight. Sophomore midfielder Elena Romesburg matched Angel with a career-high four goals. Junior attacker Cristina McCarthy also tied her career high with four points off two goals and a pair of assists and sophomore midfielder Haley Warden scored three times while senior midfielder Taylor Gress added a pair of scores.

Defensively the Dukes forced W&M into 16 turnovers, 13 of which were caused. Senior defender Emily Pillion led the pressure with career highs of four caused turnovers and three ground balls while senior defender Alex Revel had two caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls, tying her respective career highs. Freshman goalkeeper Ellie Harmeyer held the Tribe without a goal in the first half, finishing her 30 minutes of action with three saves and a caused turnover and two ground balls.

JMU outshot William & Mary 24-9, including 20-7 on goal. The Tribe held a 12-10 advantage in draw controls but the Dukes committed just seven turnovers to W&M's 16. The visitors went 8-for-8 on clears while JMU was 15-for-17.

The Tribe was led by Shannon Quinn, who scored twice while Abby Junior had three draw controls and three ground balls. All three W&M goalies saw action, combining for just three saves on shots on goal by the Dukes.

JMU dominated play from the opening draw, scoring the game's first 14 goals. The Dukes extended the lead to double digits just over halfway into the first half, allowing for the running clock to take effect for the remainder of the game. Eloise Gagnon scored the Tribe's first goal 41:59 into the game.

BIGGEST WIN OVER THE TRIBE
JMU has been playing William & Mary every year since 1974, and in its 63rd meeting, the Dukes dominated the Tribe. The 13-goal win was JMU's largest against W&M, surpassing the previous 11-goal win back in 2013 in Williamsburg.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Cristina McCarthy gets a pass from Jaci Gordon, scoring with one second left in the first half.

DEFENSE DOMINATES
JMU kept William & Mary off the scoreboard in the first half, making saves on all three shots on goal. It took nearly 42 minutes for the Tribe score their first goal of the contest, which occurred on a free-position shot. Only one of the Tribe's four goals did not occur off a free position. The JMU defense also caused 13 of W&M's 16 turnovers, creating plenty of chances in the offensive third.

HOLDING THE FOE SCORELESS
As mentioned before, JMU held W&M off the scoreboard for nearly 42 minutes. The Dukes led 12-0 at halftime and the first-half shutout was the first for JMU since blanking Old Dominion in the second half on April 21, 2013.

PHOTO OF THE GAME - Click Here to view full photo gallery

Ellie Harmeyer makes a save in the first half.

CAREER DAYS FOR A PLETHORA OF DUKES
Several JMU players turned in career-high numbers in the CAA-opening win against William & Mary.

Elena Romesburg – 4 goals
Betsy Angel – 4 assists (tie), 8 points (tie)
Cristina McCarthy – 2 assists (tie), 4 points (tie)
Jaci Gordon – 3 assists (tie)
Emily Pillion – 4 caused turnovers, 3 ground balls
Alex Revel – 2 ground balls (tie), 2 caused turnovers (tie)
Rebecca Tooker – 2 ground balls (tie)
Taylor Gress – 4 draw controls (tie)

UP NEXT
JMU continues its three-game homestand next Friday, April 8 when it hosts Drexel at 5 p.m.