HARRISONBURG, Va. – Maddie Epke won a single-game school and conference-record 23 draw controls, as #14 James Madison lacrosse took a 17-10 win in their inaugural contest with Charlotte to remain undefeated in American Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Sentara Park.
Epke also scored a game-high five goals and added one assist to lead the JMU (7-4, 3-0 AAC) attack. Brianna Mennella and Payton Root registered hat tricks, with Root providing a pair of helpers.
Defensively, Reese Cuviello picked up four ground balls and caused three turnovers, to tie career-highs in both marks. Ava Bleckley also recorded two turnovers while Olivia Rongo picked up a career-high three ground balls.
Adanya Moyer made her seventh start in the cage and made three saves in as many quarters played. Caitlin Boden finished in the fourth quarter, making three saves and allowing just one goal. JMU took a season-high 36 shots on goal out of 42 total and registered its largest margin this season in the draw, as it held a 26-4 advantage in the circle, including a 16-0 second-half mark.
Isa Torres led Charlotte (5-7, 0-3 AAC) with a hat trick, three ground balls, and one takeaway. Katie Ling made 19 saves on 42 shots faced.
How it Happened
First Quarter – James Madison 3, Charlotte 3
- Mennella got JMU on the board on its first possession. Scoring halted until the midway point of the opening frame as the 49ers knotted things up at one.
- Charlotte netted two more scores before the Dukes responded with two of their own to make it 3-3 after one.
Second Quarter – Charlotte 7, James Madison 5
- Both squads struggled to take care of the ball to begin the second. Charlotte then settled down and scored three over a three-minute span to lead 6-3 with just over nine minutes to play in the period.
- The Dukes found two scores from Epke and Maggie Clark midway through the period, but the 49ers held a 6-0 advantage on saves in the second and led 7-5 at the intermission.
Third Quarter – James Madison 12, Charlotte 9
- Charlotte began the third with a man-up score, but the Dukes responded with a 7-0 run to retake the lead at 12-8 with just under six minutes to go in the period.
- The 49ers managed one more goal heading to the final frame down 12-9.
Fourth Quarter – James Madison 17, Charlotte 10
- The fourth began in similar fashion to the third, with Charlotte grabbing the first goal following a JMU turnover.
- However, the 49ers would not get any closer as JMU enjoyed the end of a 16-0 edge in second-half draws, allowing the Dukes to close the contest on a 5-0 run for the win.
Game Notes
- Epke’s record in the circle comes just two weeks after setting the previous school and league record of 20 draws against Vanderbilt on March 15. The 23 draws today are just one shy of the NCAA single-game record of 24, set in 2015 by Robert Morris’ Jessica Karwacki against Howard. Epke has now outdrawn opponents by herself in seven games, and has recorded 15 or more draws in five games this season.
- Root’s hat trick is the first of her career, and she becomes the seventh Duke this season with at least one hat trick.
- Cuviello notched her third game of the season with at least three ground balls, and second game with three caused turnovers.
- Ryan Malfa recorded the first goal of her career.
- The Dukes improved their record to 2-4 when trailing at the half, and 7-1 when recording a scoring run of 3-0 or more.
Up next
#14 JMU will enjoy a break from game action before traveling to the Nation’s Capital to face Georgetown on April 9. Opening draw is set for 4 p.m. and will be streamed on FloCollege.
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