No. 1 JMU Falls in CAA Championship Game

Saturday, April 24

Newark, Del.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

(6-2)

Delaware

(5-3)

JMU

4/24/2021 4:18:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score @JMUFieldHockey Photo Gallery

NEWARK, Del. – No. 1 James Madison field hockey could not slow down a late charge by No. 3 Delaware as the Dukes dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in overtime in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship game on Saturday afternoon at Rullo Stadium.

Saturday's loss serves as the first defeat to a CAA school this season as JMU finishes what was an amazing season, 6-2.

The Dukes' underclassmen led the way for JMU as freshman Tori Carawan (2) and sophomore Emily Harrison (4) each scored a goal, with Harrison scoring her second goal in the tournament. CAA Player of the Year and All-CAA First Team selection Eveline Zwager recorded her fourth assist of the season while freshman Sarah Beers tallied her first career assist.

In the net, All-CAA Second Team and CAA All-Rookie Team member Brandelynn Heinbaugh racked up a career-high six saves as she faced 13 shots, the most by a CAA opponent this season. With the loss, Heinbaugh caps off a stellar freshman campaign with a 6-2 record.

The Dukes began the game with constant pressure, scoring the first goal within five minutes of action. Zwager dribbled through three Blue Hens (6-3) defenders before finding a wide-open Carawan in front of the cage for the goal.

Neither team gained much momentum in the second as there were no shots or corners in the period. Both teams changed completely to open the third as there were five shots in the period (JMU 2, Delaware 3). The Dukes were able to find the back of the net as Beers fired in a pass from 50 yards out that found Harrison's stick and bounced in to goal to take a 2-0 lead.

That's when Delaware entered full throttle mode, scoring its first goal off of a counterattack in the third period to reduce JMU's lead to 2-1. In the fourth quarter, the Blue Hens continued to put pressure on the Dukes as they recorded seven shots in the period and earned four corners.

All of Delaware's corners in the final period of regulation came within the last five minutes of the game. After earning three consecutive penalty corners with less than 90 seconds remaining, Delaware found the back of the cage on the final corner to tie the game at 2-all.

In extra time, JMU was dealt a green card on a Delaware push that allowed the Blue Hens to gain an advantage with an extra person on the field. Within 40 seconds after the green card, Delaware was able to dribble the ball into the circle where the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Femke Strien put the ball into the net for the championship.

Quoting Coach Morgan
"JMU played some of the best-connected hockey I have ever seen," head coach Christy Morgan said. "It's a disappointing finish but we are so proud of our effort, desire and fight! I'm proud of our preparation by the coaching staff and so very proud of the commitment from each player on this team. We will miss these seniors that led with emotion and heart! We bleed purple and this group has a bright, bright future!"

CAA All-Tournament Team
Following the game, sophomores Caroline Cahill and Diede Remijnse and junior Kara McClure were named to the CAA All-Tournament Team.