#3 Dukes Move to 7-0 with 16-8 Triumph at Rutgers

Saturday, March 10

Piscataway, N.J.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

7-0

Rutgers

4-3

James Madison

Rutgers

3/10/2018 4:07:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Behind a career day from senior attacker Kristen Gaudian and a stout defensive performance, third-ranked James Madison remained unbeaten with a 16-8 victory at Rutgers in non-conference women's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon at High Point Solutions Stadium.

The Dukes improved to 7-0 on the season, marking their best start in 30 years when they opened the 1988 season with program-best 9-0 record. The loss dropped the Scarlet Knights to 4-3.

Gaudian recorded a career-high eight points off five goals and a career-best three assists, marking her fourth five-goal game of the season. She also won five draw controls and produced career highs of four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Junior attacker Hanna Haven fired three goals and two assists for her second-best outing of 2018.

Sophomore attacker Maddie McDaniel also recorded a pair of second-half goals, and senior midfielder Haley Warden had a game-high seven draws, to go with three caused turnovers and three ground balls. Senior defender Rebecca Tooker also had two caused turnovers and three ground balls.

JMU out-shot Rutgers 32-21 (27-13 SOG) and held advantages in all three hustle area, with a 15-10 advantage on draw controls, 9-7 lead in caused turnovers and 21-16 edge in ground balls. Dana Gisonno scored twice for the Scarlet Knights and Kerri Puckhaber has a goal and an assist.

Gaudian and Haven sparked the offense early, as both had hat tricks just over 20 minutes in. Leading 4-2, the Dukes scored three straight in a span of 3:48 to grab a 7-2 lead with 8:44 left in the half. RU scored two of three to cut it to 8-4 at the half.

After a Rutgers goal early in the second, JMU's defense held the hosts without a goal for nearly 15 minutes while scoring five straight to build a 13-5 lead. RU never drew closer than six late, and JMU scored twice in the final 10 seconds for the final margin.

QUOTING COACH SHELLEY
"JMU is a really good team this year. We dealt a lot of yellow-card situations and we were able to get defensive stops while a man down and goals while a player up. We killed the shot clock three times in a row on defense during the second half. It was such a clean and controlled game despite hard, physical play and it shows how solid and balanced this team is this year. Kristen and Haley are big-time players for us this year and they make really big feats look easy. Things are clicking, the game has slowed down and we're able to finish quality plays in quality moments."

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CHASING THE BEST START RECORD
JMU improved to 7-0 on the year with the Rutgers win and it marked the first time in 30 years the Dukes have won this many games to open a campaign. The Dukes opened the 1988 season with a 9-0 mark, which is still the program record for best start. Should JMU win its next game against Richmond, the Dukes could tie the record on March 21 at Virginia.

CAREER WATCH
Four JMU seniors improved their spot on JMU's all-time top 20 list in Saturday's win.

Haley Warden – 7 draws – 172 for career (Extends lead); 3 caused turnovers – 88 for career (t-4th)
Katie Kerrigan – 1 assist – 62 for career (6th)
Kristen Gaudian – 2 FP goals – 30 for career (t-8th)
Rebecca Tooker – 2 caused turnovers – 63 for career (t-13th)

UP NEXT
JMU returns home next Saturday, March 17 when it hosts Richmond. Game time is set for 1 p.m. and it can be heard on MadiZONE HD SportsNet audio, presented by the JMU Alumni Association.