Dukes Take Down Johns Hopkins for NCAA First-Round Win

Friday, May 14

Chapel Hill, N.C.

5 p.m.

James Madison University

12-4

Johns Hopkins

8-7

Johns Hopkins

James Madison

5/14/2021 8:48:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Charlotte Haggerty scored a career-high four goals, and #20 James Madison used a stifling defense to upend #14 Johns Hopkins, 9-6, in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship on Friday evening at Dorrance Field.

The Dukes improved to 12-4 on the year and advance to Sunday's second-round bout against top-seeded North Carolina, while the Blue Jays' season ended at 8-7 overall.

JMU controlled the pace throughout the game, building a five-goal lead in the first half and a six-goal advantage down the stretch. The six goals allowed was tied for the second-fewest goals the Dukes have conceded in an NCAA tournament game.

The offense was paced by Haggerty, who netted her career-high four goals on just four shots. That included going 2-for-2 from the 8-meter. Brittany Bill tied her career best with two goals, both coming on free-position opportunities in the first half.

JMU's defense thwarted Hopkins offense early and often, recording 10 caused turnovers with 19 ground balls. Emma Johnson had three caused turnovers with a career-high five ground balls, as she moved into second place all-time at JMU with 176. Mairead Durkin matched her career highs with a game-best four caused turnovers and three ground balls.

Molly Dougherty recorded six of her seven saves in the second half, as she and the JMU defense limited Hopkins to a .316 shooting percentage.

The Blue Jays were led by Aurora Cordingley, who had two goals and two assists.

JMU opened the game with three straight scores, two coming by way of Bill free-position goals in the opening 12 minutes. After a Blue Jays goal, Haggerty sparked another three-goal run with two goals of her own.

Leading 6-2 at the break, Haggerty scored two of the half's first three goals, and a score by Katelyn Morgan with 5:03 to play made it a 9-3 game. Hopkins scored three late, two of which came on free-position tries to complete the scoring.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

JMU out-shot Johns Hopkins 24-19, including a 16-13 edge in shots on goal.
Hopkins rallied to win the draw-control battle, 10-7, which was guided by a 6-2 advantage in the second half.
The Dukes controlled the other two hustle stats, winning in caused turnovers (10-8) and ground balls (19-18).
In a highly-contested battle, the teams combined for 39 turnovers, with JMU having three fewer than Hopkins (18-21).
The Dukes were 4-for-6 on free-position shots, while JHU was 2-for-3.
JMU improved to 2-0 all-time against Johns Hopkins, joining its 14-9 first-round win in 2004.
The Dukes also improved to 13-15 in the NCAA Championship, having now won at least one game in 10 of 17 trips to the tournament.

Hear from JMU players Emma Johnson and Charlotte Haggerty and Head Coach Shelley Klaes following today's first-round triumph vs. Johns Hopkins.#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/SB14tKBTDi
— JMU Lacrosse (@JMULacrosse) May 15, 2021

UP NEXT
JMU gets set to face #1 North Carolina on Sunday, May 16 in the second round of the NCAA Championship. The opening draw is set for a noon start and will be streamed on ESPN3.