#12 JMU women's lax sneaks past Drexel

Redshirt sophomore Casey Ancarrow (Jarrettsville, Md./John Carroll) scored with seven seconds remaining to lift 12th-ranked James Madison (11-3, 5-1) to a 9-8 come-from-behind win at Drexel (8-5, 2-2) in Colonial Athletic Association women’s lacrosse Friday afternoon.

Ancarrow scored four second-half goals as the Dukes rallied from a 6-3 halftime deficit for the win.

The Dukes have clinched a spot in the four-team CAA Tournament, to be hosted by the top team in the final league standings.

JMU scored twice in the first 1:13 of the contest, but Drexel responded with three consecutive scores to take a 3-2 lead. A goal by Dukes’ junior Monica Zabel (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) tied the game at 3-3 with 12:52 on the clock, but the Dragons closed out the half with three straight goals to push ahead to a 6-3 lead at intermission.

The Dukes tallied two goals in the opening 57 seconds of the second half to begin a 5-0 scoring run. Senior Mary Kate Lomady (Abington, Pa./Abington) scored 42 seconds into the period, and Ancarrow converted a free-position attempt just 15 seconds later. Ancarrow scored on another free-position shot 2:31 into the half, and Lomady netted a goal 4:18 into the period, giving the Dukes a 7-6 lead. Another Ancarrow goal with 18:14 left to play pushed JMU’s advantage to 8-6.

However, Drexel got goals from sophomore Alyse Maiden at 8:57 and again at 5:49 to tie the game at 8-8.

The Dukes’ attack was stymied, as a shot by junior Ashley Kimener (Oakton, Va./Oakton) at 7:45 was blocked by a defender, and an attempt by Lomady at 6:51 was saved by Dragons’ senior goalkeeper Whitney Johnson.

After Maiden’s game-tying score at 5:49, the Dragons controlled the ensuing draw, and a shot by Drexel sophomore Kelli Joran hit the post with 4:32 on the clock.

JMU got possession, and after working the ball into its offensive third, the Dukes took five shots in the final 1:40, including four in the last minute of play. A shot by Ancarrow was wide, and an attempt by junior Ariel Lane (Vero Beach , Fla./Vero Beach) was blocked. A Zabel shot hit the post, and Johnson saved a free-position attempt by Lane with 12 seconds to go. Ancarrow gained possession of the ball and struck the game-winner into the net with seven seconds remaining.

The Dukes held a 16-3 advantage on draw controls. Each team committed 10 turnovers.

In addition to Ancarrow’s four goals, Lomady scored twice and the Dukes got one goal apiece from Kimener, Lane and Zabel.

Maiden led Drexel with three scores, and Joran and junior Jaclyn Klunder each scored twice and junior Charlotte Wood had one goal.

JMU’s ground-ball leaders were junior Annie Brophy (Berwyn, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and Lane, each with two. Junior Cally Chakrian (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) led all players with five draw controls, and Zabel controlled three draws. Brophy had a game-high three caused turnovers.

JMU out-shot Drexel 28-14, but the Dukes’ two goalkeepers did not have a save on the afternoon. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Alex Menghetti (Media, Pa./Penncrest) played the first half, and redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Alisa Konishi (Littleton, Colo./J.K. Mullen) was in goal for the final 30 minutes. Drexel’s Johnson made 11 saves.