HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – Alice Roeper netted a pair of goals to lift the James Madison field hockey past Towson in a 3-1 home-opening victory on Friday evening at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.
The Dukes (4-2) limited the Tigers (2-3) to two shots on goal, while Towson faced nine JMU penalty corners.
Roeper’s offensive showing marked her second consecutive multi-goal game of the season and the fifth of her career. Madelief Molier scored the Dukes’ final goal of the day with a feed from Azul Covarrubias. Goalkeeper Molly Schreiner registered one save to earn the 14th win of her career.
Towson’s Olivia Miller found the back of the net with an assist from Ella Kaufman. Tessa Scheenstra turned in a seven-save performance as the Tigers’ defense denied eight of JMU’s nine corners.
Quoting Head Coach Christy Morgan
“Super happy for the win, but excited to make changes for Sunday against No. 3 Virginia. We have to make those changes – so we’ll come out tomorrow to fix some things so we can be ready.”
How It Happened
After a defensive battle in the first, Roeper opened the scoring, dribbling through the defense and finding the back of the net with a back-handed shot at the 5:20 mark of the second.
JMU earned a penalty corner with three seconds remaining in the half, leading to a shot from the top of the circle from Maddie Tierney that was saved and collected by Roeper, who tapped it in to make it 2-0 at the break.
Towson responded a little over one minute into the third as Ella Kaufman’s shot found the stick of Olivia Miller, who pushed it through to make it a 2-1 game.
Early in the fourth, Tierney intercepted a pass at midfield and connected with Covarrubias near the sideline, who then dished it to a cutting Molier for the near-side goal.
Game Notes
James Madison held an advantage in shots (16-7), shots on goal (10-2) and penalty corners (9-2).
JMU has won 28-straight contests against the Tigers and is 28-1 in the all-time series, dating back to 1976.
Roeper’s performance gives her two game-winning goals this season and nine in her career.
With her third score of the season, Molier has matched her goal total from 2024. Additionally, Covarrubias’ assist was the second of her junior campaign – tying the amount of helpers she produced last season.
The Dukes have won six consecutive home openers and 10 of their last 12.
Up Next
JMU will go over the mountain to take on No. 3 Virginia on Sunday, Sept. 14. Game time at Turf Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
— JMU Athletics —
