Dukes Win Back-to-Back CAA Championships with 16-10 Victory over #7 Towson

Sunday, May 6

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

18-1

Towson

15-4

Towson

James Madison

Dukes Win Back-to-Back CAA Championships with 16-10 Victory over #7 Towson

5/6/2018 4:59:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score Highlights Klaes-Bawcombe Postgame Warden Postgame Championship Gear Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Senior attacker Kristen Gaudian and senior midfielder Elena Romesburg combined for nine goals to lead fifth-ranked James Madison to a 16-10 triumph against No. 7 Towson to win the 2018 Colonial Athletic Association Women's Lacrosse Championship on Sunday afternoon at Sentara Park.

The Dukes captured their second straight CAA tournament title and 11th all-time, improving to 18-1 on the year. The win set a new JMU single-season record for wins, surpassing the 2010 team, which was 17-3. The Tigers fell to 15-4 with the loss.

Senior midfielder Haley Warden was named the CAA Championship Most Outstanding Performer for the second straight year, becoming the first player to ever win the award in consecutive seasons. She finished the weekend with a pair of goals and 23 hustle stats, which included team bests of 11 draw controls and seven ground balls, to go with five caused turnovers.

Joining Warden on the All-Tournament team were Gaudian, Romesburg and junior defender Caroline Sdanowich. Gaudian led the tournament with 10 goals and 11 points, as she went 5-for-6 on free-position shots. Romesburg had five goals, six draws and six ground balls, while Sdanowich tallied a team-best seven caused turnovers and five ground balls in the two wins.

In Sunday's win, Gaudian led the way with five goals and an assist, and Romesburg scored four goals, to go with three draws and five ground balls, which matched her career high. Senior attacker Morgan Hardt came off the bench to score two goals and one assist, and senior attacker Katie Kerrigan turned in a seven-point day with a goal and six assists, which set the tournament's single-game record for assists. Additionally, Kerrigan tied the JMU single-season record with 49 assists, matching Monica Zabel, who did it in 2012.

Warden produced game highs of seven draw controls and four caused turnovers, as she became JMU's all-time leader with 114 career caused turnovers, surpassing Ashlee Dardine (2002-05 – 110). Sdanowich and sophomore defender Emma Johnson each had two caused turnovers. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Molly Dougherty made nine saves between the pipes, accounting for 14 on the weekend with .500 save percentage.

After going back-and-forth early, JMU closed the final 7:50 of the first half on a 5-0 run to grab a 10-4 lead at the break. Towson scored three straight to open the second half to trim JMU's advantage to 10-7 but a 4-0 run late in the game sealed JMU's second straight conference tournament title.

KLAES-BAWCOMBE POSTGAME

BACK-TO-BACK CROWNS
JMU won the CAA tournament title for the second straight year and CAA-leading 11th time ever. It's the third time the Dukes have won in consecutive seasons, joining the 2003 and 2004 teams and 2010 and 2011 squads. Since 2008, JMU and Towson have accounted for every tournament title, with the Tigers winning six and JMU claiming five.

CAA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Stephanie Asher, Elon
Olivia Conti, Towson
Kristen Gaudian, JMU
Becky Gohsler, Delaware
Rachel Mills, Towson
Elena Romesburg, JMU
Caroline Sdanowich, JMU
Chantae Simms, Delaware
Natalie Sulmonte, Towson
Haley Warden, JMU
Leah Zadjura, Elon

Most Outstanding Performer: Haley Warden, JMU

UP NEXT
The Dukes will find out their postseason fate for the 2018 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship during the live selection show tonight at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com. The team will have a watch party at O'Neill's Grill on University Boulevard in Harrisonburg.

VIEW PHOTO GALLERY