No. 1 JMU Wins Overtime Thriller, Advances to Championship Game

Thursday, April 22

Newark, Del.

Noon

James Madison University

(6-1)

Drexel

(5-6)

Drexel

JMU

No. 1 JMU Wins Overtime Thriller, Advances to Championship Game

4/22/2021 3:20:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score @JMUFieldHockey Photo Gallery

NEWARK, Del. – Sophomore Caroline Cahill found the back of the cage in overtime, lifting No. 1 James Madison over No. 4 Drexel, 4-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association field hockey semifinal game on Thursday afternoon at Rullo Stadium.

With the win, JMU remains unbeaten against CAA opponents (6-0) improving to 6-1 on the year and will play for the CAA Championship for the 15th time in program history. The Dukes advance to the title game for the first time since the 2016 season.

There were three different goal scorers in the win led by All-CAA First Team selection Cahill who scored two goals and tallied an assist for five points while junior Courtney Lynch recorded one goal and two assists on the day.

Sophomore Emily Harrison netted her third goal of the year while CAA Player of the Year Eveline Zwager racked up two assists. In the cage, All-CAA Second Team and All-Rookie Team honoree Brandelynn Heinbaugh improved to 6-1 on the season.

The Dukes began the scoring at the end of the first quarter as Zwager dribble the ball around multiple Dragons (5-6), floating a pass across the net where Harrison tapped it into the goal.

Drexel switched the momentum in the second as they scored two goals on two shots to take a 2-1 lead into the half. JMU opened the second half with complete dominance as the Dukes outshot Drexel 10-0 in the period while earning five penalty corners.

The Dukes were able to capitalize off one corner as Cahill controlled the ball off a save then fired a strong shot from right inside the circle lines to tie the game at two apiece. Just three minutes later, JMU was on another attack where once again Cahill sent in a powerful pass that ricochet off the stick of Lynch into the goal to allow JMU to regain the lead at 3-2.

The Dragons did not give up hope as they scored the game-tying goal within two minutes of the fourth. The sole overtime period was controlled by JMU as the Dukes outshot Drexel 4-0 in just a little under eight minutes. On its fourth penalty corner of the period, JMU cashed in the game winner as Zwager inserted the ball to Lynch who stopped the pass for Cahill where she took one touch and sent in a backhanded shot for the win.

Cahill Calls Game

GOAL!! 🐶

CAROLINE CAHILL CALLS GAME AND SENDS THE DUKES TO THE CAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME! 👏#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/fWzkehtjex
— JMU Field Hockey (@JMUFieldHockey) April 22, 2021

Quoting Coach Morgan
"We are very excited to have pulled through for the victory," head coach Christy Morgan said. "Drexel played a smart game of hockey and we left some great opportunities out on the field. We had some beautiful goals and great effort! We are happy to live another day to grow our game and get prepared for the CAA finals!"

Up Next
No. 1 James Madison will face the winner of No. 2 William & Mary/No. 3 Drexel on Saturday at 1 p.m. on FloSports in the CAA Championship game.