Completed Event: Field Hockey versus Villanova on August 29, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 2
FH
Final
James Madison
3
vs Villanova
2
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
2008 Field Hockey Roster
Roster
Walls, Melissa
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Jersey Number 3
Melissa Walls
- Year:
- Senior
- Position:
- Midfielder/Back
- Height:
- 5-5
- Hometown:
- Berlin, N.J.
- High School:
- Eastern Regional
Bio
As a senior: Womensfieldhockey.com Division I First Team All-American... Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Third Team All-American... Longstreth/NFHCA Division I First Team All-Region (South)... ECAC All-Star... CAA Preseason All-Conference... CAA Defensive Player of the Year... CAA First Team All-Conference... CAA All-Tournament Team... VaSID First Team All-State... ranked ninth all time in JMU history in games played and sixth in games started... started all 21 games this season... finished the season with eight assists... recorded an assist in back to back games versus Kent State and Richmond... finished with two assists in a 6-1 win over Towson... recorded an assist in three straight games, two of which led to the game-winning goal, against Hofstra, Villanova, and Louisville.
As a junior: Longstrength/NFHCA Division I Second Team All-American... Womensfieldhockey.com Division I Second Team All-American... Longstrength/NFHCA Division I First Team All-Region (South)... VaSID First Team All-State... CAA Second Team All-Conference... CAA All-Tournament... six goals this season and game-winning goal against Albany... first goal of the season was in the season opening 7-0 shutout against Georgetown... one of four JMU players to score off of penalty strokes in the overtime match against Penn State... defensive save in 1-0 shutout against Saint Joseph's... assist against Longwood... assisted Bain's game-winning goal against Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament
As a sophomore: NFHCA Second Team All-Region... CAA All-Tournament... CAA Second Team All-Conference... VaSID First Team All-State... one of the team’s top defensive players and JMU’s stroker... hit on three of four penalty stroke attempts... fired three game-winning goals, ranking second on the team... had two assists against Ohio... scored first goal of season against Radford... first career multiple-goal game with two against Longwood, including the game winner... stroke goal against Old Dominion won the CAA championship and was JMU’s only shot of the match while being outshot 23-1.
As a freshman: Started in all 20 games played... made first career goal off a penalty shot in the 4-0 shutout against Georgetown... had an assist in the 3-2 overtime match against #13 Northeastern... one goal and two assists this season
High school: Camden Courier-Post Player of the Year as a senior. All-region as a junior and senior. All-Olympic American Conference as a sophomore, junior and senior. Team overall MVP and team defensive MVP as a junior and senior. Eastern won its sixth straight state championship in 2004, set a national record with 138 consecutive victories and had a record of 69-0-1 in her four-year career.. The Vikings were ranked number one nationally 2002, 2003, 2004. Participated in Junior Olympics two years.
Personal: Melissa Walls. Health service administration major. Her sisters Lauren and Melissa are juniors on the JMU field hockey team. Her high school coach, Danyle Hefferman Heilig (JMU '95), played on JMU's 1994 NCAA champion field hockey team, is co-holder of JMU's career assist record (36), was a two-time JMU lacrosse All-America and ranks among JMU's all-time lacrosse scorers.
Getting to know Melissa...
Why did you choose JMU?
I love the campus and the team.
What is your major and why did you choose it?
Communication sciences and disorders because I love helping people.
What do you enjoy most about JMU field hockey?
My teammates.
What are your goals for this year?
To make it to the Final Four.
What is your favorite pre-game music or ritual?
Listening to rap on my IPOD.
Who is the silliest/goofiest person on the team?
Lauren S.
Who motivates you and why?
My family because they are always there for me.
What are your favorite things about JMU?
The food and the bookstore.
What is your favorite place at JMU?
My apartment.
What influenced you to play field hockey?
My mother and father.
Do you have a nickname within the team?
Missy.
Which is your favorite team to play against?
UVA.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I am a triplet.
What other hobbies and/or activities do you enjoy?
Sewing.
Who or what is your favorite:
Food? Mom’s spaghetti.
Movie? A Walk to Remember.
TV Show? King of Queens.
Actor/Actress? Adrian Grenier.
Athlete? Brian Westbrook.
As a junior: Longstrength/NFHCA Division I Second Team All-American... Womensfieldhockey.com Division I Second Team All-American... Longstrength/NFHCA Division I First Team All-Region (South)... VaSID First Team All-State... CAA Second Team All-Conference... CAA All-Tournament... six goals this season and game-winning goal against Albany... first goal of the season was in the season opening 7-0 shutout against Georgetown... one of four JMU players to score off of penalty strokes in the overtime match against Penn State... defensive save in 1-0 shutout against Saint Joseph's... assist against Longwood... assisted Bain's game-winning goal against Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament
As a sophomore: NFHCA Second Team All-Region... CAA All-Tournament... CAA Second Team All-Conference... VaSID First Team All-State... one of the team’s top defensive players and JMU’s stroker... hit on three of four penalty stroke attempts... fired three game-winning goals, ranking second on the team... had two assists against Ohio... scored first goal of season against Radford... first career multiple-goal game with two against Longwood, including the game winner... stroke goal against Old Dominion won the CAA championship and was JMU’s only shot of the match while being outshot 23-1.
As a freshman: Started in all 20 games played... made first career goal off a penalty shot in the 4-0 shutout against Georgetown... had an assist in the 3-2 overtime match against #13 Northeastern... one goal and two assists this season
High school: Camden Courier-Post Player of the Year as a senior. All-region as a junior and senior. All-Olympic American Conference as a sophomore, junior and senior. Team overall MVP and team defensive MVP as a junior and senior. Eastern won its sixth straight state championship in 2004, set a national record with 138 consecutive victories and had a record of 69-0-1 in her four-year career.. The Vikings were ranked number one nationally 2002, 2003, 2004. Participated in Junior Olympics two years.
Personal: Melissa Walls. Health service administration major. Her sisters Lauren and Melissa are juniors on the JMU field hockey team. Her high school coach, Danyle Hefferman Heilig (JMU '95), played on JMU's 1994 NCAA champion field hockey team, is co-holder of JMU's career assist record (36), was a two-time JMU lacrosse All-America and ranks among JMU's all-time lacrosse scorers.
Getting to know Melissa...
Why did you choose JMU?
I love the campus and the team.
What is your major and why did you choose it?
Communication sciences and disorders because I love helping people.
What do you enjoy most about JMU field hockey?
My teammates.
What are your goals for this year?
To make it to the Final Four.
What is your favorite pre-game music or ritual?
Listening to rap on my IPOD.
Who is the silliest/goofiest person on the team?
Lauren S.
Who motivates you and why?
My family because they are always there for me.
What are your favorite things about JMU?
The food and the bookstore.
What is your favorite place at JMU?
My apartment.
What influenced you to play field hockey?
My mother and father.
Do you have a nickname within the team?
Missy.
Which is your favorite team to play against?
UVA.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I am a triplet.
What other hobbies and/or activities do you enjoy?
Sewing.
Who or what is your favorite:
Food? Mom’s spaghetti.
Movie? A Walk to Remember.
TV Show? King of Queens.
Actor/Actress? Adrian Grenier.
Athlete? Brian Westbrook.
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