Shooting for a repeat
JMU field hockey aims to make it back to CAA final
Posted on August 27, 2007
The JMU field hockey team fulfilled a mission statement last year when they won the CAA championship against perennial powerhouse ODU. The upset victory propelled them to the NCAA tournament, where they lost in the first round to Duke in overtime, 3-2.
The Dukes captured the CAA championship on a penalty stroke shot 22 minutes into the game. The winning shot was Melissa Walls’ third penalty stroke goal of the season and that was all it took to dethrone the Monarchs, who won the tournament in 2005. The Monarchs outshot JMU 23-1, and led in penalty corners 21-1.
“I think a lot of us are still surprised,” Walls said. “But I think now we know we can win CAAs and we’re looking to take the next step.”
The junior midfielder had six goals and two assists in 2006, but she also plays a major role in defense. She was named Second Team All-Conference and CAA All-Tournament. Her sister Lauren Walls was also named CAA All-Tournament.
Head coach Antoinette Lucas enters her fourth season as head coach at JMU, and expects her team to exceed expectations once again. The Dukes have their eyes set on another trophy, this time the NCAA.
“In the first round, we felt like we got turned around a day early. So our goal would be to get in the NCAAs again,” Coach Lucas said.
JMU has many key players returning this year, on offense and defense. Sophomore forward Meghan Bain led the team in 2006 with 16 goals and four assists and garnered National Rookie of the Year honors. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Cutchins had four solo shutouts in 2006 and was named CAA all-tournament.
The Dukes will pursue their goals without midfielder Ballie Versfeld, the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and three other graduates.
“We lost a lot of seniors, but we still have 8 starters [out of 11], so I think we’ll get comfortable pretty quickly,” Melissa Walls said.
The Dukes have seven freshmen joining the team, including redshirt freshman Regan Shouldis. Shouldis was one of seven redshirt freshmen in 2006.
“We’re young and we have holes to fill,” Lucas said. “We have to let go of what we did last year and take it one game at a time.”
The CAA’s nine head coaches picked JMU to finish second in the conference in a preseason poll, and ODU was tabbed as the number one. The Monarchs were undefeated in regular season conference play (8-0) for the 2006 season, and they face JMU in Harrisonburg, Saturday, October 20.
“This team has so much potential, and last year we showed that in the CAAs and the NCAAs,” sophomore defender Tara King said. “We just need to do the simple things right in order to be successful. “
JMU wasdominant in its debut Saturday against Georgetown, winning 7-0. Junior forward Melissa Stefaniak had two goals and five players scored one each.
Sunday against Albany, Dolores de Rooij and Melissa Walls scored in a 2-1 victory.
Madison next plays at North Carolina Sunday, Sept. 2, in the first game of a three game road trip. After returning, The Dukes will play Richmond at home Friday, September 14.