Dukes look to poison Ivy

File Photo Junior midfielder Betsey Priest drives downfield during JMU's 11-10 win over Cal last weekend. The Dukes host the Yale University Bulldogs Saturday.

For the second year in a row, the JMU lacrosse team will look for an important out-of-region victory over Yale University, when the Dukes host the Bulldogs Saturday at the JMU Lacrosse Complex.

"Last year’s win over Yale was a big reason why we were seeded so high in the NCAA tournament," JMU coach Kellie Young said. "This game will affect us now, but even more in May."

The Dukes are coming off an 11-10 opening-day win over the University of California Golden Bears last weekend. Sophomore midfielder Kelly Berger had a hat trick; senior attacker Jessica Brownridge and freshman midfielder Emily Haller added two goals apiece. Haller’s second was the game-winner.

Despite getting goals from seven different players, Young said the Dukes weren’t sharp.

"It was sloppy," Young said. "As a staff we’re OK; it was a little case of pre-game jitters. We’ve worked on that this week, stick work and making good decisions."

Good decisions will play a critical role in Saturday’s game. When the two teams me last season, then-No. 7 JMU got late-game goals from former CAA Player of the Year Gail Decker and Brownridge to beat then-No. 18 Yale 9-7 in New Haven, Conn.

This season, despite being unranked, the Bulldogs present a formidable challenge for the No. 11 Dukes.

"They like to feed inside and press through the midfield," Young said of the Yale attack. "We need to work defensively to prevent that. They don’t have the ability to go right-left as much now as they will in May, so we have to take advantage of that.

"We have to beat their press."

JMU and Yale square off at 12 p.m.