Dukes Storm Back to Win Fourth Straight CAA Championship in Overtime

Sunday, May 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

11-4

Drexel

13-2

Drexel

James Madison

Dukes Storm Back to Win Fourth Straight CAA Championship in Overtime

5/9/2021 3:56:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. - #20 James Madison overcame a three-goal deficit to force overtime, and Lizzy Fox buried the game-winning score with 2:05 left in the extra period to defeat #10 Drexel 13-12 to win the 2021 Colonial Athletic Association Women's Lacrosse Championship Sunday at Sentara Park.

The Dukes improved to 11-4 to capture their fourth consecutive CAA championship and the program's 13th title all-time. JMU is the first school in conference history to win four straight tournament titles. The Dragons, playing in their first championship game, fell to 13-2 with the loss.

Drexel used a six-goal run in the second half to grab a 12-9 lead with 4:58 to play in regulation. Taylor Marchetti produced a pair of tough goals in a span of 2:14 to trim the deficit to 12-11 with 2:07 to play, and Katelyn Morgan tied the game with 73 seconds left.

In overtime, both goalies made saves to keep their teams alive, but in the second portion of the first overtime, Fox received a free-position opportunity, drove down low and fired the championship-clinching goal.

Molly Dougherty turned in a season-high 16 saves for the Dukes to earn the CAA Championship Most Outstanding Performer honor. Her 16 stops set a JMU record in the conference tournament. Joining her on the CAA All-Tournament Team were Fox, Emma Johnson and Isabella Peterson.

Peterson scored a game-high five goals, including two on the free position, while Marchetti matched her career high with three goals. Katie Checkosky had three points off a goal and two assists, and the trio of Fox, Morgan and Emma Greenhill all had a goal and one helper.

JMU caused 10 of Drexel's 13 turnovers, as Johnson had a game-best three. Fox also had two caused turnovers while five others had one each. Johnson and Dougherty paced the Dukes with four ground balls apiece, and Fox added three.

The Dragons were led by Colleen Grady, who had a game-high seven points off four goals and three assists. Lucy Schneidereith had three goals, and Corinne Bednarik tallied two goals and two assists. Karson Harris and Bednarik won seven and six draw controls, respectively, allowing for DU to win the draw margin by 12. Zoe Bennett also made 12 saves in the loss.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

JMU out-shot Drexel 37-31, though Drexel had a 28-25 edge in shots on goal.
Drexel was dominant in the circle, winning 20 of 28 draw controls.
JMU held leads in caused turnovers (10-4) and ground balls (21-10) and committed five fewer turnovers (8-13).
JMU was 4-for-8 on free-position shots, while Drexel was 3-for-7.
The Dukes scored player-up goals on all three of Drexel's yellow cards while the Dukes only conceded one man-up score on their three infractions.
JMU was 24-for-26 on clears, and Drexel was 16-for-18.
The Dukes improved to 20-0 all-time against Drexel and 2-0 in CAA tournament games.

FOUR-PEAT

JMU is the first CAA program to win four consecutive CAA women's lacrosse tournament titles.
The Dukes won the CAA for the 13th time in team history, which also leads all teams in the league.
It's the fourth CAA championship for the Dukes as a No. 2 seed, joining the 2003, 2011 and 2015 squads.
The Dukes advance to the 2021 NCAA Championship, which will be their 17th appearance in the tournament and for the sixth straight season.
Including the NCAA tournament, JMU has now won eight straight home postseason games, dating back to the 2018 national championship campaign.

UP NEXT
JMU will learn its NCAA Championship postseason fate Sunday night at 9 p.m. during the live selection show on ESPNU.