Dukes Clash with Second-Seeded Syracuse in NCAA Quarterfinals Thursday

HARRISONBURG, Va. – No. 7 James Madison lacrosse will face its biggest test of the season in an NCAA quarterfinals matchup at No. 2 seed Syracuse on Thursday afternoon inside the JMA Wireless Dome.

The opening draw is set for noon and will be broadcast in front of a national audience on ESPNU. Radio coverage will be on the JMU Radio Network.

Thursday's matchup will be the second all-time meeting between JMU and Syracuse. The Orange won 7-3 in Harrisonburg in the 2010 NCAA quarterfinals.

A win would give JMU its third appearance all-time in the national semifinals, having reached Championship Weekend in both 2000 and 2018.

James Madison Dukes (19-2) vs. Syracuse Orange (17-2)
Thursday, May 18, 2023 | Noon
Syracuse, N.Y. | JMA Wireless Dome

Game Day Information
TV: ESPNU
Online: ESPN+ (subscription required)
Listen: JMU Radio Network – 106.9 FM | 1360 AM
Live Stats
Tickets
Game Notes

DUKES TRAVEL TO SYRACUSE FOR QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP AGAINST ORANGE

JMU will play in the quarterfinals for the 11th time ever, having also played in 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2018. JMU has a 2-8 record in the quarterfinal round, with wins against Virginia in 2000 and Florida in 2018.
JMU is making its eighth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance and 10th overall under Head Coach Shelley Klaes. JMU is 10-8 overall in NCAA Championship games under Klaes and 16-17 all-time as a program.
Redshirt junior Isabella Peterson has scored 89 goals to lead the Dukes including 18 hat tricks and nine performances of at least five goals. She has also added 23 assists for 112 points. She is the nation's goals and points leader following last weekend.
Senior Tai Jankowski supports Peterson with 52 goals and 23 assists, adding 10 of her 13 career hat tricks this season.
The defense has held opponents to just 7.62 goals per game, which ranks third in the country. Each of the nation's top three scoring defenses - Denver, Loyola and James Madison all made the quarterfinal. Just four opponents have scored double-digit goals this season.
The defense is led by captain Rachel Matey, who holds team highs in ground balls (47) and draw controls (90) to go with 24 caused turnovers. She has multiple ground balls in 12 games this season and at least five draw controls in 10 games.
The Dukes have taken 192 shots more than their opponents, 9.14 more per game.
JMU holds a draw control percentage of .568, entering the quarterfinal round ranked 16th in the country in that statistic.

JMU IN THE NCAA TOURNEY

JMU is currently in its 19th appearance in the NCAA Championship and eighth straight dating back to 2015.
The Dukes are 16-17 all-time in the tournament. They are 10-3 at home, 1-10 away and 5-4 in neutral-site games.
JMU has produced a victory in 12 of its previous 19 berths in the NCAA Championship, having won at least one game in five of its last six appearances.
JMU's last road matchup came in last season's second round, an 18-8 defeat at sixth seed Loyola.
The Dukes have won at least three games in the NCAA Championship just once, winning four times en route to the national championship in 2018.

JMU'S NATIONAL RANKS
Entering Thursday's quarterfinal round, JMU ranks top 20 in the country in nine categories.