Gaudian OT Winner Secures CAA Regular-Season Title in 17-16 Victory at #6 Towson

Saturday, April 28

Towson, Md.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

Towson

Gaudian OT Winner Secures CAA Regular-Season Title in 17-16 Victory at #6 Towson

4/28/2018 7:49:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score Gaudian Game Winner Highlights Photo Gallery

TOWSON, Md. – Senior attacker Kristen Gaudian fired the game-winning goal with 1:18 remaining in overtime to lift No. 4 James Madison to a 17-16 victory at No. 6 Towson to secure the outright Colonial Athletic Association women's lacrosse championship on Saturday afternoon at Unitas Stadium.

The Dukes ended the regular season with a 16-1 overall mark and an unblemished 6-0 record in CAA play while the Tigers fell to 14-3 and 5-1. The Dukes captured the No. 1 seed for next weekend's CAA Women's Lacrosse Championship, hosted by JMU, and Towson will be the No. 2 seed.

JMU led 16-13 late in the second half before a non-releasable penalty sparked Towson to a 3-0 run over the final 3:52 to tie the game at 16-16. The Tigers had a free-position opportunity with five seconds to play, but a deflection by junior defender Caroline Sdanowich allowed redshirt freshman goalkeeper Molly Dougherty to make the save.

In overtime, JMU out-shot Towson 3-0, and after Sdanowich took a charge from Emily Gillingham, the Dukes went to the other end, as senior attacker Katie Kerrigan dished a pass out front for Gaudian, who ripped the shot past the keeper for the victory.

In what was the highest-scoring game in series history, dating back to 1976. Sophomore attacker Maddie McDaniel tied for game-high honors with four goals, three of which came in the first half. Gaudian finished with three goals, junior attacker Hanna Haven led the team with six points off two goals and a career-high four assists and Kerrigan had a five-point day with two goals and three helpers.

Three others tallied multiple goals, as senior midfielder Elena Romesburg had two goals, an assist and a career-high seven draw controls. Senior midfielder Haley Warden scored twice with five draws, and senior attacker Morgan Hardt added two scores off the bench.

JMU set the program and CAA single-season for goals, with 272, surpassing its own record of 271, which it set last season in 21 games.

Towson was led by Natalie Sulmonte's four goals and two assists while three others had hat tricks.

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QUOTING SHELLEY KLAES-BAWCOMBE
"Credit to Towson, they fought really hard today. They gave us everything they had, but I'm so proud of my team for weathering the storm and showing the composure they needed to get the defensive stop in overtime. That sent the ball down the other way to set up the game winner. It was a great play by Katie Kerrigan and Kristen Gaudian to win the game today."

TOP SEED CLINCHED
JMU punched the top seed for the CAA Women's Lacrosse Championship, which the Dukes will host next week. It's the sixth time in the last nine seasons in which JMU has finished first or tied for first in the conference standings. The Dukes will be the No. 1 seed for the ninth time in the league's history (since 1992). With the outright regular-season title, JMU also secured hosting the 2019 CAA Championship next season.

DUKES GET IT DONE IN OT
JMU and Towson played its seventh overtime game in the series history on Saturday, and JMU came away with just its second win against Towson that required extra time. It's the first OT win versus the Tigers since 2010. That season, JMU won the CAA Tournament and was later the No. 5 seed for the NCAA Championship.

UP NEXT
Top-seeded JMU will host the CAA Championship, May 4-6, at Sentara Park. The Dukes will face fourth-seeded Delaware next Friday at 4 p.m. in the first semifinal. Second-seeded Towson will take on third-seeded Elon in the second semifinal at 6:30 p.m.