JMU Offense Explodes in Fourth Quarter for 5-1 Win Over Ohio

Friday, October 4

Athens, Ohio

1 p.m.

James Madison University

(7-2, 3-0)

Ohio

(4-6, 1-2)

James Madison

Ohio

Photo by: Clay Stark/Ohio Athletics

JMU Offense Explodes in Fourth Quarter for 5-1 Win Over Ohio

10/4/2024 4:15:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio – Tied 1-1 after three quarters, James Madison scored four goals in the final frame to pull away from Ohio for a 5-1 victory in Mid-American Conference field hockey action at Pruitt Field on Friday afternoon.

The Dukes (7-2, 3-0 MAC) have won three straight and are off to their best start since 2008 when the team began the season 8-1.

Sophomore Brynna Hill led JMU's attack with two goals for the first multi-goal game of her career. Senior Cassidy Strittmatter recorded her first career game with multiple assists, connecting with graduate student Mia Julian and Hill. Junior Julie Narleski and freshman Elena Giangaspero also found the back of the net with assists from junior Alice Roeper and sophomore Azul Covarrubias, respectively.

Redshirt sophomore Molly Schreiner earned the win after making one stop in the first half. Senior Katie Fricke took over goaltending duties in the second half and produced a pair of saves.

Anouk Plaehn was the lone goal scorer for the Bobcats (4-6, 1-2 MAC), with assists from Natalie Lafleur and Bodhi Littlefield. Netminder Macy Lotze recorded six saves in the loss.

Quoting Head Coach Christy Morgan
"I think we found our identity in the fourth quarter. We were solid the whole game but had a breakout final quarter when words became action. Some grit, skill and finish for the Dukes today!"

How It Happened

On JMU's second penalty corner, a shot from Strittmatter trickled past Ohio's goalkeeper and found Hill who batted it in to put the Dukes ahead 1-0 halfway through the second.
The Bobcats responded just over two minutes later on a penalty corner play as Plaehn struck from the right side with assists from Lafleur and Littlefield to make it 1-1 at the break.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Strittmatter found Julian open on an uneven break to regain control, 2-1, in the first minute of the fourth.
Off a quick reset, Narleski took a quick shot from the right side of the circle off the inlet from Roeper to build a 3-1 cushion with under ten minutes to play.
Covarrubias sent a pass from JMU's 23-meter line to Giangaspero in OU's defensive end who sprinted into the circle and sent a hard strike to the bottom left corner for a 4-1 JMU advantage halfway through the final period.
Strittmatter dribbled through multiple defenders and passed across the Bobcats' goalkeeper to Hill who tapped it home.

Game Notes

James Madison leads Ohio in the all-time series, 5-0, dating back to 1984.
The Dukes held the advantage in shots (21-4) and shots on goal (13-4).
JMU won its third consecutive game for the first time since 2022 when the team had a five-game winning streak from Sept. 10 through Sept. 25.
James Madison has scored five or more goals in back-to-back games for the first time since 2017 when it defeated Richmond 5-1 on Sept. 29 and Drexel 7-1 on Oct. 6.
The 7-2 start is the best for the program through nine games since 2008 when the Dukes began the year 8-1.
Narleski's goal was her first of the season and second in her career.
Giangaspero has scored in back-to-back games after not registering any points in the first seven games of the season.
All seven of the Dukes' wins have come when they have scored the game's opening goal.

Up Next
The Dukes will return home to host Richmond on Sunday, Oct. 6. Action in Harrisonburg will begin at 2 p.m. and stream on ESPN+.