JMU wins CAA championship again

Field hockey repeats as Colonial Athletic Association winner in a rematch of last year’s final against rival Old Dominion Monarchs

James Madison junior forward Lauren Walls scored the game-winning goal in the third minute of overtime Sunday, as JMU edged ODU 1-0 to capture the 2007 Colonial Athletic Association field hockey title. For the second straight year, Madison defeated Old Dominion in the CAA championship game in Virginia Beach and the winning goal was kept in the family.

JMU junior forward Melissa Walls scored on a penalty stroke in the 23rd minute of the 2006 CAA championship game, and that was the margin of victory as Madison won 1-0. JMU earned the CAA’s automatic bid to the NCAAs that year, but lost 2-3 in overtime to Duke in the first round of the 16-team tournament, falling to 15-8.

Madison has a record of 18-3 in 2007 after recording its fifth consecutive shutout, as ODU fell to 12-9. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Cutchins notched her sixth solo shutout of the year, as the Dukes notched their fifth consecutive shutout. Lauren Walls received the Most Outstanding Player award and was one of four JMU players on the CAA All-Tournament team. Junior defender Melissa Walls, junior midfielder Ashley Walls and Cutchins were also named CAA All-Tournament.

The NCAA Tournament field will be announced Tuesday on CSTV and NCAASports.com, and Madison will be included once again. Sunday’s victory brought JMU its third field hockey championship in the program’s history, and all three titles have been won in championship games against ODU.