Second Half Goal Lifts JMU Over Drexel

Friday, April 2

Philadelphia, Pa.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

(2-1, 2-0)

Drexel

(3-3, 1-2)

James Madison

Drexel

4/2/2021 6:48:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score @JMUFieldHockey

PHILADELPHIA – James Madison scored a goal within the last three minutes of the third quarter to earn a 2-1 Colonial Athletic Association field hockey victory over Drexel on Friday evening at Buckley Field.

The hard-fought physical win pushed the Dukes to 2-1 (2-0 CAA) on the season while the Dragons moved to 3-3 (1-2 CAA) on the year. JMU won the shot (11-3) and penalty corner (7-2) advantage to hold Drexel at bay.

Sophomore Eveline Zwager was on an offensive tear as she took six shots with five being on target to pace all players. She ended the day with one goal scored while freshman Lauren Satchell scored the game winner, her first of her career.

Senior Rachel Yeager recorded her third assist of the season and junior Kara McClure secured her first career assist on the same play. Freshman Brandelynn Heinbaugh posted one save in the win as she improved to 2-1 on the year.

JMU controlled a lot of the offensive momentum in the game including outshooting the Dragons 5-0 in the first quarter. The aggressive offense paid off early as the Dukes earned two penalty corners in the first, capitalizing off the second corner as Yeager inserted the ball to McClure who set up Zwager for the goal.

Drexel responded in the second quarter by scoring a breakaway goal in the final minutes of the quarter to knot the score at 1-all heading into break. Neither team could get into a consistent rhythm in the third until JMU found a way to keep the ball inside of the circle where Satchell caught the rebound of a save then hit it into the net to give the Dukes the 2-1 lead.

The Dragons tried to respond in the fourth and nearly had one opportunity late off a corner but Heinbaugh saved the shot to solidify the win.

Quoting Coach Morgan
"It was a hard-fought game by both teams and lots of opportunities for goals on both sides were missed," head coach Christy Morgan said. "We will have to pick it up a level in preparation for Delaware."

Up Next
JMU will play its final two home contests of the season next weekend as it welcomes #19 Delaware on Friday, April 9 at 5 p.m. before taking on Towson on Sunday, April 11 at 1 p.m. for Senior Day.