EVANSTON, Ill. (JMU Athletics) – The James Madison Lacrosse team fell to top-seeded Northwestern, 17-5, in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
The Wildcats (16-3) advance to the NCAA quarterfinals while the Dukes (14-7) saw their season end in the second round for the fourth time in six seasons.
Leading 6-3 in the second, Northwestern controlled the pace the rest of the way, scoring seven consecutive goals. The hosts never led by fewer than nine the rest of the way.
For JMU, Bre McVicker had two goals while other goal scorers included Josie Pell, Olivia Matthews and Maya Antonakas. Abigail Beattie made nine saves for JMU.
Madison Taylor netted a game-high eight goals to lead Northwestern while Aditi Foster recorded a four-goal game and Maddie Epke dished out a game-best four assists. In cage, Jenika Cuocco made seven saves with a .583 save percentage in the win.
It was the final game for JMU’s senior class, which won 61 total games with a 74% win percentage, won back-to-back American Conference titles and reached the NCAA Championship each season, including a quarterfinal appearance in 2023.
How it Happened
First Quarter – Northwestern 5, JMU 2
• Northwestern took a quick 2-0 lead just over four minutes in by way of two Taylor goals.
• JMU answered with a score from Pell less than a minute later, however NU would score three of the next four to take a 5-2 lead after one.
Second Quarter – Northwestern 9, JMU 3
• After teams traded goals, making it a 6-3 game, Northwestern would hold JMU off the scoreboard the rest of the half, as Taylor scored twice in a three-goal spurt to give the top seed a six-goal advantage at the break.
Third Quarter – Northwestern 13, JMU 4
• The Wildcats’ scoring run continued into the second half, as they scored four times, including two from Foster to run NU’s lead to 13-3 with 6:19 remaining in the frame.
• JMU ended a scoring drought of 22:22 late in the third quarter, as Antonakas found the back of the net with an unassisted goal.
Fourth Quarter – Northwestern 17, JMU 5
• JMU was able to get the deficit back to nine, at 14-5, but Northwestern ended the game with three different goal scorers to enact a running clock for the final 8:20.
Game Notes
• NU out-shot JMU by a 33-23 margin, including 26-12 in shots on goal.
• The Wildcats held leads both in the draw circle (15-9) and in caused turnovers (10-6). JMU held a slim lead in ground balls (13-12).
• Epke had a game-high nine draw controls for Northwestern, while Harlowe Healey won six draws for JMU.
• Ava Main led JMU in hustle stats, with six, as she caused two turnovers, collected three ground balls and won a single draw control.
Northwestern and JMU met for the first time since 1989 and for just the fifth time overall, as NU now leads the series, 4-1.
— JMU Athletics —
