Gaudian, Dukes Power Past Virginia Tech, 16-11

Wednesday, February 14

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

2-0

Virginia Tech

0-2

Virginia Tech

James Madison

2/14/2018 6:53:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Senior attacker Kristen Gaudian fired a career-best six goals and No. 16/8 James Madison won its second straight game against an Atlantic Coast Conference team, topping Virginia Tech 16-11 on Wednesday night at Sentara Park.

JMU (2-0) used a pair of three-goal runs to build a 10-5 halftime lead and never conceded more than two straight goals to Tech down the stretch to improve to 16-0 all-time against the Hokies (0-2).

For the second straight game, Gaudian recorded a career high in the scoring department, as she produced six goals and an assist. Her seven points matched her career high. Senior midfielder Elena Romesburg had four goals, to go with three caused turnovers, three ground balls and a pair of draw controls. Senior midfielder Haley Warden had two goals and an assist while also contributing five draw controls and four caused turnovers, and junior attacker Hanna Haven had a goal and tied her career best with three assists.

JMU held a 31-29 shots advantage, including a 22-18 edge in shots on goal. Junior Ellie Harmeyer made seven saves between the pipes for her first win of the year as the goalkeeper. JMU held a lead in caused turnovers (14-10), as senior defender Rebecca Tooker added three, while the Hokies led the game in draw controls (15-14) and ground balls (22-17).

A HELPING HAND
JMU produced seven assists on its 16 goals, but a strong passing game in the first half set the tone early. The Dukes had five assists on its 10 first-half scores, which allowed them to build a five-goal halftime lead. Haven had three assists in the first 30 minutes, while Gaudian and Warden each contributed one. Senior attacker Katie Kerrigan had JMU's two assists alone in the second half.

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MOVING UP THE CHARTS
Several JMU players moved up the program's career top 20 in the VT win. Warden remained in third place all-time in draw controls (150) but needs just 15 more to hold the career record. She also moved into fifth place in caused turnovers (79) and a tie for 14th in ground balls (104). Gaudian, who tied her career-high with three free-position goals, is now 12th all-time in the category (23), while Romesburg added two free-position scores to be in a tie for 13th (22). Romesburg is also 14th in career draws (94).

UP NEXT
JMU hits the road for a neutral-site game on Sunday, Feb. 18 against UConn. That game, which starts at 1 p.m., will be played at the US Lacrosse Complex in Sparks, Md. This marks the second straight year the Dukes and Huskies will play in the first collegiate game of the season at the home of US Lacrosse.