Posted on April 5, 2007
After a 16-13 loss to U.Va. at home in the rain, the No. 6 JMU lacrosse team had something to prove with ex-conference rival Loyola (Md.) coming to town. And for once, the sun was shining on the Dukes – literally.
Given the beautiful weather Tuesday afternoon, JMU (6-2) was able to play on its grass field for the first time this year as they dominated Loyola in a 17-7 victory.
“We’re trying to prove to ourselves that we can be consistent and that we can set the tone with defense,” JMU coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe said. “I was really proud of our team today.”
Going into the game, Klaes-Bawcombe challenged JMU with three goals against Loyola: capitalize in transition, dominate ground balls and allow no more than eight goals. At the end of the day, the Dukes met the tall order.
In the first half, however, the Greyhounds (2-7) hung with the Dukes, out-shooting JMU 13-11 and winning 6-of-11 draw controls.
“They showed us they were ready to fight at the beginning,” senior midfielder Kelly Berger said.
Down 5-3 with 2:21 to play until the break, Loyola drew within one when junior Alicyn Brunnett burned JMU junior goalkeeper Kelly Wetzel low and to the far post. Brunnett shared a game-high three goals with three Dukes. Junior attacker Annie Wagner – one of the three – answered the goal right before halftime with a score of her own to put JMU up 6-4.
“[The coaching staff] just reiterated those goals [at halftime], and I think that put us in the right mindset to go out there and get after it,” senior midfielder Lynlea Cronin said.
Said Berger: “We just came out knowing it was our field, our house and we weren’t going to let [Loyola beat us]…We didn’t want two losses in a row.”
That became apparent as JMU’s offense dropped six, unanswered goals on the Greyhounds to start the second half. Leading 12-4, the Dukes’ defense finally gave up a goal with 17:17 left to play, but the offense remained ruthless.
Cronin began another JMU run of five scores when she buried a ball in the back of the cage with 15:52 to play. Cronin, Wagner and Berger each finished with a game-high three goals each.
“Anybody can come up on any day, because you know every player is talented,” Cronin said of her team’s scoring depth. Against Loyola, JMU had eight different players score.
With a double-digit lead, JMU had the luxury of resting its first-team for its upcoming conference schedule, while the future of the team saw game action.
Freshman midfielder Nina Emala took advantage of the opportunity by scoring back-to-back goals to cap the final JMU run.
At that point, with 6:45 left to play, Loyola had only managed to win four draw controls and score one goal.
“It doesn’t matter how you start, it’s all about how you finish,” Klaes-Bawcombe said.
“It’s one thing to go into these non-conference games and to rip through, but if you don’t end strong, none of that matters. So I’m really proud of the way we were able to bounce back with a win and end our non-conference schedule dominating.”
