No. 18 Dukes Dominate for 14-5 Triumph Against No. 19 Elon

Friday, April 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

5 p.m.

James Madison University

8-5, 2-0CAA

Elon

8-4, 0-1CAA

Elon

James Madison

No. 18 Dukes Dominate for 14-5 Triumph Against No. 19 Elon

4/7/2017 9:28:00 PM | Lacrosse

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HARRISONBURG, Va. – No. 18 James Madison used three big scoring runs and a dominant defensive effort to dispatch 19th-ranked Elon, 14-5, in Colonial Athletic Association women's lacrosse action on Friday evening at Sentara Park.

The Dukes improved to 8-5 overall and 2-0 in the CAA while the Phoenix fell to 8-4 and 0-1.

All three JMU starting attackers recorded hat tricks in the win, led by a four-goal effort from junior Kristen Gaudian. Junior Katie Kerrigan tallied five points off three goals and two assists, while senior Leah Monticello recorded three goals and an assist. Gaudian and Kerrigan each tied their respective career highs for goals, while Monticello turned in a season-best performance.

Junior midfielder Elena Romesburg had a monster game in the defensive third, causing a career-best six turnovers and collecting five ground balls, which matched her personal best. Junior midfielder Haley Warden tallied a game-high 13 hustle stats, producing a game-best five draw controls, four caused turnovers and four ground balls. Junior defenders Rebecca Tooker and Corinne Schmidt both caused a pair of turnovers.

Senior goalkeeper Emily Poelma earned the win after tying her career-best for fewest goals allowed in a full 60 minutes. It was her second straight game holding CAA foes to only five goals. JMU dominated nearly every statistical category, out-shooting the Phoenix 34-13, including 23-7 in shots on goal. JMU also handled Elon in caused turnovers (18-8), draw controls (14-6) and ground balls (22-11).

JMU limited the league's leading scorer, Stephanie Asher, to just one goal and one assist. She was the lone Elon player to record two points. Rachel Ramirez took the loss in the cage, making nine saves on 23 shots on goal. She also accrued three ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Trailing 2-1 late in the first half, JMU closed the frame on a 3-0 run, capped off by a last-second score by Gaudian to put the Dukes ahead 4-2 at the break. After adding another goal early in the second, JMU conceded its first goal in just over 20 minutes to make it 5-3 with 20:48 remaining.

The Dukes answered back with a five-goal run in the span of 6:18 to take control at 10-3. That run included back-to-back goals by Monticello only 12 seconds apart. The Dukes led by as many as 10 down the stretch.

QUOTING COACH SHELLEY
"We really focused in on hustle stats, controlling runs and limiting shots on the defensive end, and that's exactly what happened today," Head Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe said. "It was an emotional game with a lot of fouls being called early, but I was pleased with our team's ability to make adjustments in the second half with composure. It was a total team effort with an outstanding defensive effort, causing 18 turnovers. We never stopped on the offensive end and stepped off the gas pedal, showing how powerful we can be on both sides of the ball."

DEFENSIVE PROWESS
JMU's offense was able to pull away from Elon due in large part to the stout defensive effort JMU displayed. Of Elon's 21 turnovers, the Dukes caused 18 of them, led by six from Elena Romesburg and four from Haley Warden. The Dukes also doubled the Phoenix in ground balls, at 22-11. Elon scored just three goals at even strength, utilizing a pair of man-up opportunities to score 40 percent of its total output.

ON THE ATTACK
JMU's attackers turned on the jets in the second half, scoring eight of the team's 10 goals over the final 30 minutes. Both Leah Monticello and Katie Kerrigan recorded hat tricks in the second half alone, while Kristen Gaudian tacked on two more in the second, to go with her two first-half tallies. Kerrigan accumulated all five of her points in the second stanza, assisting on two of three Monticello goals. JMU's constant pressure in the offensive end amounted to a dominant 34-13 advantage in total shots.

PHOTO OF THE GAME - view full photo gallery

Emily Poelma reacts to JMU scoring a goal at the other end.

CAREER-HIGHS IN THE WIN
Six Dukes either tied or set new career highs in the nine-goal victory over Elon. The most impressive was Elena Romesburg, who tripled her caused turnover record.

Elena Romesburg - 6 CT, 5 GB (tie CH)
Kristen Gaudian - 4 goals (tie CH)
Katie Kerrigan - 3 goals (tie CH), 2 GB (tie CH), 2 DC
Emily Poelma - 5 GA in full game (tie CH)
Corinne Schmidt - 2 CT (tie CH)
Margaret Tucker Fogarty - 1 assist (tie CH), 1 DC (tie CH)

MOVEMENT IN THE SEASON AND CAREER CHARTS
Two players entered JMU single-season top-20 lists on Friday while there was movement in two other categories. Haley Warden moved into a tie for seventh in single-season caused turnovers (32) and entered the top 20 in draw controls (41), at a tie for 17th. Katie Kerrigan now ranks tied for 10th in single-season assists (26), and Kristen Gaudian vaulted into a tie for 18th in free-position goals (9). Warden also moved up a spot in career caused turnovers (59), sliding up to 14th.

UP NEXT
JMU closes its regular-season home slate on Sunday, April 9 when it hosts William & Mary. First draw is set for noon at Sentara Park and the game will be streamed on MadiZONE HD SportsNet. Prior to the game, JMU will honor its five seniors for Senior Day.