JMU women’s lax tops Hofstra

The James Madison women’s lacrosse team remained unbeaten in Colonial Athletic Association play with a convincing 12-6 win over visiting Hofstra on Friday afternoon at the JMU Lacrosse Complex.

The two-time defending CAA champion Dukes improved their league record to 2-0 and upped their overall record to 6-5.  Hofstra dropped to 1-1 in CAA play and 2-9 overall.

The Dukes set the tone early, scoring on their first three shot attempts in the opening two minutes of the game.  JMU led 9-2 at halftime and was ahead 11-2 with 14 minutes remaining before the Dukes began substituting liberally.  With 12 minutes to go JMU held a 23-7 advantage on shot attempts.

JMU had balanced scoring, with redshirt junior Casey Ancarrow (Jarrettsville, Md./John Carroll) and senior Ashley Kimener (Oakton, Va./Oakton) leading the way with three goals each.  Other multiple-goal scorers included senior Caitlin McHugh (Westminster, Md./Mercy) and senior Ariel Lane (Vero Beach , Fla./Vero Beach), each with two.

Ancarrow has now contributed a point in each of her 54 career games.

Hofstra’s top goal-scorers were junior Jill Maier (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls) and sophomore Jenn Ward (Fallston, Md./Fallston) with two goals apiece.

Dukes’ senior Monica Zabel (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) had three assists on the day to boost her career total to 103 and move into second place on JMU’s all-time assist list.  Zabel passed Natasha Fuchs (’08), who had 101 career assists.  She now trails only Megan Riley (’99), who holds the school record of 109.

JMU turned in season highs of 21 caused turnovers and 21 ground balls.  Junior Kelsey MacDonald (Glyndon, Md./Bryn Mawr), senior Cally Chakrian (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) and sophomore Leah Perrotta (Forest Hills, Md./Fallston) led the Dukes in CTs with three apiece, and freshman Ali Curwin (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) finished with a game-high 21 ground balls.

JMU junior Amanda Mathews (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) controlled a game-high four draws, and Ancarrow had three draw controls.