JMU Begins Season with Shutout Over Tribe

Friday, March 19

Harrisonburg, Va.

5 p.m.

James Madison University

(1-0)

William & Mary

(0-1)

William & Mary

James Madison

3/19/2021 8:33:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score @JMUFieldHockey Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison field hockey began its 2020-21 season with a dominant 4-0 Colonial Athletic Association win over William & Mary on Friday evening at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.

With the win, the Dukes (1-0, 1-0 CAA) ended a three-game skid against the Tribe (0-1, 0-1 CAA) and also earned their first home victory over William & Mary since Oct. 19, 2012.

JMU controlled the momentum for majority of the game as the Dukes didn't allow a Tribe shot until the third period. The Dukes outshot William & Mary 7-5 but the Tribe took the corner advantage at 4-2 including three corners in the fourth.

Freshman Brandelynn Heinbaugh earned the start in the goal in her first collegiate game and posted a shutout with a save. Senior Rachel Yeager led the way for the Dukes with three points.

Neither team could get into a solid offensive rhythm in the first period as both defenses were tough until freshman Tori Carawan found the ball off a deflection and dove to hit it into the back of the net for the first shot and goal of the Dukes' season.

After leading 1-0 at the break, JMU earned the first penalty corner of the game where Yeager was able to put the ball in off a bounce pass from sophomore Emily Harrison to give JMU a 2-0 lead with 12:48 remaining in the third. The Dukes added another goal in the third as Yeager sent in a hard pass the was deflected into the goal by junior Courtney Lynch.

JMU put a cap on the game when sophomore Morgan Merritt buried a shot off a deflection from a Tribe player in the final period to solidify the season-opening win.

Coach Morgan's Reaction