Field hockey defeats Towson

The field hockey team continued its historical domination of Towson University Sunday afternoon, handing the Tigers their second Colonial Athletic Association loss — a 2-0 blanking at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.

The Dukes now lead the all-time series 10-1.

"I had looked at our history against Penn State and some other schools before, and now I try not to look it," coach Antoinette Lucas said. "I think we were 22-2 against Richmond and we lost."

Not only did JMU perpetuate history, the Dukes snapped a three-game losing skid in the process.

"The beginning of the schedule was tough," freshman forward Amy DeCecco said. "It makes you want to win more. Today is the start of something, and it’s a good CAA win."

Towson was JMU’s first game since Friday’s double-overtime 2-1 loss to the University of Delaware.

"We were pissed," DeCecco said. "That was our mentality coming in. [Delaware] was a tough loss, but we played amazing that game. Our mindset was, ‘we need a win today.’"

DeCecco did her part. The true freshman sealed JMU’s first conference win with 1:52 to play. DeCecco took the feed from redshirt senior forward Alissa Santanna and found the back of the net for her second goal of the season.

"Alissa was carrying [the ball] and passed it in," DeCecco said. "I tipped it passed the goalie and it went in."

Before DeCecco’s goal, the Dukes led 1-0 most of the game on the strength of sophomore midfielder Baillie Versfeld’s sixth goal of the year 10 minutes into the first half.

With the win, JMU improves 3-10 overall and evens their conference record at 1-1. Towson falls to 4-8 and remains winless in CAA play at 0-2.

"I think it was definitely a big win," Versfeld said. "It ties us up in the CAA and it was much needed."

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