Not-so-happy senior day

JMU falls to Towson in CAA matchup at home

Carolyn Walser / senior photographer A Towson University defender takes a moment to rest during Sunday's game against JMU at the JMU Lacrosse Complex. Despite the break, the Tigers defeated the Dukes in CAA action.

Senior attacker Jessica Brownridge sat on the bench and stared at the field following JMU’s 9-5 Senior Day loss to the Towson University Tigers. With four regular season games left, the message was clear. For the first time in Kellie Young’s coaching tenure, the Dukes (1-3, 6-6) will need help to reach the conference tournament.

"Right now we’re hoping to get in because other people lose," Young said. "We came in today with urgency and we didn’t put the best game out there."

Towson goalkeeper Mandy Corry did put on her best game, literally. The North Caldwell, N.J., native saved a career-high 19 shots Sunday, keeping the Dukes off the scoreboard.

"She played very well," Brownridge said of Corry. "We wanted to make sure we moved her and finished out shots and we didn’t do that today."

JMU took 32 total shots, nearly doubling Towson’s 15, but could not find the back of the net.

"Our shots were on target but they weren’t where we wanted them to be," Young said. "Our shooting today is why we lost the game."

Despite Corry’s efforts, the Dukes took a 3-1 lead into halftime on the strength of their defense, which was sliding into place and cutting off Towson’s scoring opportunities.

"As a defensive unit it was pretty solid today," senior defender Johanna Buchholz said. "We said the key point today was going to be communicating and then everything else was going to fall in place."

But while everything fell into place in the opening period, things began to unravel quickly for JMU in the second half. The Tigers scored five consecutive goals and took a 6-3 lead with 17:21 left in the game.

Towson midfielder Amy Middleton led the way for the Tigers, scoring three of the five goals over that stretch.

"We played so strong in the first half," Young said. "The slides were there and we were denying top-side cuts. We underestimated them in the second half. They came out fired up."

JMU rallied and cut the lead to 6-5 on goals from junior attacker Brooke McKenzie and freshman midfielder Emily Haller. With just over seven minutes left in regulation, sophomore attacker Kelly Berger drew a foul, setting up a free position shot.

Berger took a few steps and rifled a low shot to Corry’s left.

It hit the post.

JMU never got closer. Three straight Towson goals put the game out of reach.

"We got down, we fought back and from there we started to play," Young said. "We had to pressure to get the ball back and they were smart, they went to the goal and that’s what put the game out of reach."

JMU’s final regular season games all come on the road — three of which are against Colonial Athletic Association foes, as well as one non-conference game against Georgetown University. Brownridge said the math is simple.

"We need to win all the rest of our CAA games," Brownridge said. "And hope someone stumbles along the way."