Dukes Close Out Home Slate with 17-8 Victory Over Vanderbilt

Saturday, April 20

Harrisonburg, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

11-4

Vanderbilt

8-7

Vanderbilt

James Madison

Dukes Close Out Home Slate with 17-8 Victory Over Vanderbilt

4/20/2024 3:46:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – No. 16 James Madison lacrosse dominated all sides of play to defeat American Athletic Conference opponent Vanderbilt 17-8 on Saturday afternoon at Sentara Park.

The Dukes (11-4, 4-1) outdrew the Commodores (8-7, 2-3) by a 20-8 margin and caused 19 turnovers as opposed to Vanderbilt's nine, lifting the team to victory in the final home game of the season.

Three Dukes notched hat tricks with four scores coming from senior attacker Isabella Peterson, three from graduate student attacker Kacey Knobloch and three from sophomore attacker Maddie Epke. Senior attacker Katelyn Morgan notched two goals and added six assists on the day, while JMU saw three other goal scorers and four other players with helpers.

The Dukes' defensive side of the ball was led by senior defender Lizzy Pirisino, senior midfielder Taylor Marchetti and sophomore midfielder Lauren Savage. Pirisino secured four ground balls and caused four turnovers, Marchetti collected two ground balls while recording four caused turnovers, and Savage tallied three ground balls and three caused turnovers.

Peterson and Epke collected nine ground balls each while senior defender Nicholle Marshall added her first of the season and redshirt-junior collected the first of her career.

Sophomore goalkeeper Caitlin Boden made seven saves on 24 shots faced, allowing eight goals and posting a .467 save percentage.

Ella Smith led both the offensive and defensive side of the ball for Vanderbilt, recording one goal, three assists, five ground balls and two caused turnovers. Commodores' goalkeeper Paige Gunning made 17 saves on 43 shots faced, allowing 17 goals and amassing a .500 save percentage.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter – James Madison 6, Vanderbilt 2
Epke opened scoring for the Dukes followed by a Vanderbilt goal from Brooke Baker. JMU went on a 5-0 scoring run, including a hat trick from Peterson in the first six minutes of the game. Josie Ward scored for the Commodores on a free-position goal to close out the first quarter.

Second Quarter – James Madison 9, Vanderbilt 6
Knobloch notched two consecutive goals to start the second frame, followed by a Vanderbilt free-position goal by Kemper Robinson and a roll-in goal for the Dukes from Mattis. The Commodores closed the first half with a 3-0 scoring run.

Third Quarter – James Madison 14, Vanderbilt 7
Both defenses were strong to start the second half, with the only goal in the first 11:44 of the quarter coming from Morgan at 12:22. Molly Finlay notched one for the Commodores with 3:16 left to go in the third but the Dukes went on another scoring run, finding the back of the net four times in the last 2:44 of the frame.

Fourth Quarter – James Madison 17, Vanderbilt 8
Epke scored to begin the final frame but both defenses continued to hold strong, allowing just one Commodore goal and two more Dukes' scores.

GAME NOTES

James Madison now leads Vanderbilt 2-1 in the all-time series.
The Dukes have won 37 consecutive home games over a conference opponent. The last time JMU lost to an in-conference opponent at home was on April 7, 2013 in a 16-10 defeat to CAA-opponent Towson.
Morgan's eight points moved her into 14th in all-time points in JMU history with 180 while Knobloch's five points in the outing moved her into 16th in all-time points in JMU history with 172.
Knobloch is now tied-eight in all-time assists in JMU history with 71.
Freshman defender Maddie Weybrecht secured a career-high four turnovers in the outing. Her previous career high was one which she recorded twice.
Morgan's six assists and eight points are both career highs. She previously recorded four assists in four different outings and six points in four different matchups.
Marshall recorded her first draw control of the season while tying her career high of four ground balls.
Peterson's nine draw controls tie her career high, which she previously collected against Virginia Tech on February 16, 2022.
Marchetti caused a career-high four turnovers, previously causing two in four outings.
Savage's three ground balls and three caused turnovers are both career highs.
Sophomore midfielder Brianna Mennella secured a career-high three ground balls, having previously recorded two against Furman on March 4, 2024.

UP NEXT
The No. 16 Dukes (11-4, 4-1) will close out the 2024 regular season on Saturday, April 27 as they head to Norfolk, Va. to face off against AAC opponent Old Dominion (3-11, 2-4) in the TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge. Opening draw is set for noon and will be streamed on ESPN+.