Stout Defensive Effort Leads Dukes to 9-6 Win at Virginia Tech

Wednesday, February 15

Blacksburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

2-1

Virginia Tech

2-1

JMU

Virginia Tech

Stout Defensive Effort Leads Dukes to 9-6 Win at Virginia Tech

2/15/2017 7:45:00 PM | Lacrosse

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BLACKSBURG, Va. – James Madison utilized solid defensive play and timely scoring, limiting Virginia Tech to just one goal over the final 21:30, en route to a 9-6 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Thompson Field.

The Dukes (2-1) trailed 5-4 against the Hokies (2-1) with 21:36 remaining before tallying four straight goals to grab an 8-5 lead. JMU held Tech off the board for over 19 minutes and added an insurance score with just over a minute remaining to improve to 15-0 all-time against VT.

A pair of Dukes recorded hat tricks, as sophomore midfielder Hanna Haven had a career-high five points off three goals and two assists, and junior midfielder Elena Romesburg tied her career best of four points with a three-goal, one-assist outing. Senior attacker Margaret Tucker Fogarty also netted a pair of goals over the final 12 minutes.

Junior defender Rebecca Tooker led the defensive unit with four caused turnovers, which was one off her career high, while collecting one ground ball and a draw control. Junior defender Corinne Schmidt tallied a pair of caused turnovers and picked up three ground balls, both of which were career highs. Junior midfielder Haley Warden tied her single-game high with seven draw controls, while Romesburg was all over the stat sheet, adding three draws and a career-best four ground balls.

Senior goalkeeper Emily Poelma earned her second straight win between the pipes, making seven saves (.538 save percentage) on 13 shots on goal. She also collected a career-high three ground balls.

The Dukes dominated most categories, out-shooting the Hokies 31-16, including a 21-13 advantage in shots on goal. JMU held a big advantage in the midfield, winning 13 of 17 draw controls and was 21-of-22 on clear attempts. Defensively, JMU held a 13-10 lead in caused turnovers and 23-19 edge in ground balls.

The Hokies were led by Zan Biedenharn, who scored three goals. Meagh Graham made 12 saves in net and tallied a game-high six ground balls.

JMU scored four of nine goals on free-position opportunities, three off the stick of Romesburg, and it converted goals on all four man-up opportunities.

POST-WIN REACTION

STAYING PERFECT WITH THE HOKIES
JMU kept its unbeaten streak against Virginia Tech intact, improving to 15-0 all-time. The Dukes are also 6-0 in games played in Blacksburg. It was only the fourth time in the series that VT stayed within three goals versus JMU.

PLENTY OF CAREER BESTS
Numerous players turned in career-high numbers in JMU's win at Virginia Tech.

Haley Warden – 7 draw controls (tie CH)
Hanna Haven – 5 points, 3 goals (tie CH), 2 assists (tie CH)
Elena Romesburg – 4 points (tie CH), 4 ground balls, 3 free-position goals
Corinne Schmidt – 2 caused turnovers, 3 ground balls
Emily Poelma – 3 ground balls
Emma Johnson – 2 ground balls
Caroline Sdanowich – 2 ground balls (tie CH)
Margaret Tucker Fogarty – 2 ground balls (tie CH)

UP NEXT
JMU returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 19 when it faces Connecticut in a neutral-site matchup in Sparks, Md. First draw is slated for a 1 p.m. start, and it will be the first women's college game to be played at US Lacrosse's Tierney Field.