Dukes Can't Overcome Delaware in Regular-Season Finale

Sunday, April 23

Newark, Del.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

5-111-6 | CAA

Delaware

3-28-7 | CAA

James Madison

Delaware

4/23/2017 5:07:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score @JMULacrosse JMU Lacrosse on Facebook Box Score Highlights

NEWARK, Del. – James Madison's bid for an unbeaten Colonial Athletic Association women's lacrosse slate fell short, as Delaware used an 8-1 run to bridge the halves to earn a 15-12 victory on Sunday afternoon at Delaware Stadium.

The Blue Hens improved to 8-7 overall and 3-2 in CAA play while the 16th-ranked Dukes fell to 11-6 and 5-1. It was UD's second straight win in the series, and JMU saw its five-game win streak come to an end with its first conference defeat.

Delaware never trailed, as it used a 5-0 run over a 5:27 span to take a 10-4 lead with just over five minutes left in the first half. JMU scored in the final two minutes to make it a 10-5 game at the break, but the Hens answered with three straight to open the second to give them their largest lead of the day, at 13-5. The Dukes didn't concede a goal over the final 15:30, but their five-goal run down the stretch wasn't enough to erase the deficit.

Senior attacker Margaret Tucker Fogarty tied her career high with four points off three goals and one assist. Five Dukes in all recorded multi-goal games, as junior attacker Kristen Gaudian, junior midfielder Elena Romesburg and sophomore midfielder Hanna Haven all recorded two goals and one assist. Freshman midfielder Maddie McDaniel scored twice, and junior attacker Katie Kerrigan notched a goal and two assists.

Romesburg also had three ground balls, two caused turnovers and two draw controls, and Gaudian turned in a career-high three ground balls. Junior midfielder Haley Warden contributed four draw controls, two caused turnovers and two draw controls, and sophomore defender Caroline Sdanowich caused a pair of turnovers.

The teams both fired 25 shots, with UD holding a 21-20 shots on goal advantage. JMU had leads in caused turnovers (10-9) and ground balls (16-13), while the Blue Hens led in draw controls (16-13). UD was paced by Coley Ricci, who recorded a career-high five goals and one assist. Becky Gohsler tallied four goals and two assists, and Megan Santoleri added four goals and one helper.

QUOTING COACH SHELLEY
"You have to credit Delaware, they outplayed us today," Head Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe said. "Our team did not execute the game plan, and Delaware took advantage of all of our mistakes. They put us on our back heels and it took us too long to find a rhythm. Once we did, we had dug too big of a hole."

WARDEN CONTINUES SURGE UP CHARTS
Haley Warden turned in four draw controls, two caused turnovers and two ground balls, moving up the charts in each category.

Season
40 caused turnovers – t-2nd (one of single-season record)
56 draw controls – 3rd (13 off single-season record)
47 ground balls – t-14th (3 from top 10)

Career
124 draw controls – 7th (40 off career record)
67 caused turnovers – t-11th (6 from top 10)
95 ground balls – 5 from top 20

CAA TOURNEY OUTLOOK
JMU (5-1), along with Towson (4-2) and Hofstra (2-4) have completed conference play, with the Dukes and Tigers wrapping up the top-two seeds for the CAA Championship. Elon (3-2) has also clinched a spot in the tournament, while Delaware (3-2) and Drexel (2-3) will battle each other for the final slot next weekend.

UP NEXT
JMU will have next weekend off before venturing up to Towson, Md., for the 2017 CAA Women's Lacrosse Championship, May 5-7. The Dukes captured the league's regular-season title and will be the top seed in the four-team tournament. JMU's semifinal opponent will be revealed following next Saturday's final two CAA games.

"Today served as a reminder how tough this conference is," Klaes-Bawcombe said. "Even though we are the No. 1 seed for the tournament, we have a target on our back and teams are capable of beating us if we don't play to our ability. We have to bring our 'A game' and it's that's huge message for us in the next two weeks of preparation."