HARRISONBURG, Va. - The University of Maryland women's lacrosse team lost in another close one as it fell to James Madison University, 11-10, at the JMU Lacrosse Field in Harrisonburg. The loss marked the fourth time that the Terrapins have lost by one goal this year, drops the ninth-ranked Terps' overall record to 6-6 (0-3 ACC), and marks the first win for JMU in the series in its last 29 tries.
Maryland got out to a fast start against the Dukes, scoring the game's first two goals and ultimately moving their way out to a 4-1 lead almost midway through the first half. In the first 15 minutes, seniors Meredith Egan (two goals) and Courtney Hobbs (one goal, two assists) paced the Terps' scoring attack.
The Dukes, however, took a timeout after Maryland's fourth goal with the intent of changing their early misfortune. The timeout, as it turns out, was well-timed as JMU outscored the Terrapins, 6-4, for the rest of the half and ended the half with just a one-goal deficit (8-7) after Egan completed a first-half hat trick with a goal at 0:12 left in the frame.
The second half saw the Terps struggling to get shots while James Madison took over the lead and extended it. Maryland went the first 13-plus minutes of the half before it took its first shot and JMU took advantage and scored three goals to open up a 10-8 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Freshman Acacia Walker ended the Maryland scoring drought with an unassisted goal with just under 15 minutes to go. At the 10:19 mark, JMU's Lisa Staedt scored her third goal of the game to extend the Dukes' lead back to two, but another Terrapin freshman -- Kristie Leggio -- ultimately answered with a goal with three-and-a-half minutes left to get the deficit back to 11-10.
The Terps won the ensuing draw, but turned it over and JMU tried to kill the clock. Junior defender Julie Shank helped Maryland get the ball back with a caused turnover with 2:20 left, but the Terps were unable to convert. After the failed attempt, the Dukes were able to run the clock down to the 22-second mark but Maryland almost made that little bit enough.
With the clock winding down, freshman Greta Sommers ran the ball from the Terrapin end line into the James Madison end before getting Kelly Coppedge a chance with five seconds remaining. Coppedge got a good look, but her shot sailed wide and with it, the Terrapins' hopes at overtime.
Maryland, which has now lost six games by a combined 10 goals, returns to action on Wednesday as it will continue its string of road games with a trip to Williamsburg, Va., to take on the William & Mary Tribe. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.
GAME SCORING
#18 JAMES MADISON 7 4 -- 11
#9 MARYLAND 8 2 -- 10
Half-Time Team, Goal (Assist) JMU-UM
1-27:44 Maryland, Meredith Egan (Hobbs) 0-1
1-26:06 Maryland, Kristie Leggio (Hobbs) 0-2
1-24:21 James Madison, Kristen Denisio (unassisted) 1-2
1-19:23 Maryland, Meredith Egan (FPS) 1-3
1-17:16 Maryland, Courtney Hobbs (unassisted) 1-4
1-15:44 James Madison, Lisa Staedt (unassisted) 2-4
1-15:08 Maryland, Sonia Judd (unassisted) 2-5
1-13:35 James Madison, Kristen Denisio (FPS) 3-5
1-12:51 Maryland, Acacia Walker (unassisted) 3-6
1-11:33 James Madison, Gail Decker (FPS) 4-6
1-9:01 James Madison, Gail Decker (Staedt) 5-6
1-5:59 Maryland, Annie Collins (Walker) 5-7
1-4:24 James Madison, Lisa Staedt (FPS) 6-7
1-1:25 James Madison, Jessica Brownridge (Staedt) 7-7
1-0:12 Maryland, Meredith Egan (FPS) 7-8
2-26:13 James Madison, Gail Decker (Molloy) 8-8
2-23:14 James Madison, McNevin Molloy (unassisted) 9-8
2-20:09 James Madison, Jessica Brownridge (Malloy) 10-8
2-14:53 Maryland, Acacia Walker (unassisted) 10-9
2-10:19 James Madison, Lisa Staedt (unassisted) 11-9
2-3:33 Maryland, Kristie Leggio (FPS) 11-10
TEAM STATS
Category Maryland James Madison
Shots 14-11--25 14-12--26
Saves 2-7--9 2-7--9
Draw Controls 10-2--12 6-6--12
Groundballs 8-6--14 7-10--17
Turnovers 6-7--13 6-8--14
Caused Turnovers 4-6--10 3-4--7
Free Position Shots 2-5--7 4-1--5
Fouls 8-8--16 8-7--15
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
Maryland Scorers Goals-Asst.-Pts.
Meredith Egan 3-0--3
Acacia Walker 2-1--3
Courtney Hobbs 1-2--3
Kristie Leggio 2-0--2
Annie Collins 1-0--1
Sonia Judd 1-0--1
James Madison Scorers Goals-Asst.-Pts.
Lisa Staedt 3-2--5
Gail Decker 3-0--3
McNevin Molloy 1-2--3
Jessica Brownridge 2-0--2
Kristen Denisio 2-0--2
GOALIES
Maryland Goalies Saves GA Min.
Alexis Venechanos 9 11 60:00
James Madison Goalies Saves GA Min.
Amy Altig 9 10 60:00
