Field Hockey | 08/30/24 04:00 pm -0400

Harrisonburg, Va.   –  Junior Skyler Brown launched the game-winner early in the fourth quarter to secure James Madison Field Hockey’s season-opening win Friday, August 30th, against Villanova, 2-1.

James Madison improves their season-opening win streak to six and five straight starting at home. The Wildcats move to 0-1 and face Sacred Heart for their home opener Sunday, Sept. 1. The Dukes’ scoring began in the third quarter with fifth-year Carissa Tambroni finding the back of the cage for her first career goal. Junior Skyler Brown sent the ball over sophomore goalkeeper Maddi Sears to complete the scoring for the contest. For Villanova, fifth-year Alexandria Lavelle was the solo goal scorer and Maddi Sears had two saves during the 60-minute stretch.

The defense held strong behind R-Fr Molly Schreiner who made her collegiate debut in goal and logged all 60 minutes. In the cage, she recorded five saves to earn her first career win. Graduate student Sarah Beers helped hold the Wildcats to one goal with a defensive save.

Quoting Head Coach Christy Morgan-
“I’m so thrilled with the grit and the grind we played with. It was a hard-fought game by both teams and I’m happy to say that we finished on top!”

“I’m proud of our team…It’s the ‘we’ not ‘me’. Go Dukes!”

How it happened

7:38 | Beers’ defensive save kept the Wildcats from converting in their second corner of the game.
Villanova recorded ten corners, seven in the first half yet did not convert.
Schreiner recorded five saves; three in the first half.
38:40 | Tambroni scored her career first goal with a backhanded flick to get past the defense and to the back of the cage.
Villanova had 13 shots, seven on goal, and converted one in the third quarter.
49:16 | The winning goal was scored on a corner taken by junior Alice Roeper after a save off of sophomore Azul Covarrubias’ shot from the top of the circle was rebounded and put in by Brown.
The Dukes held strong in the remaining 10 minutes of the game only allowing two shots.
The Wildcats earned their final corner with less than 45 seconds left in the match posting two shots that were blocked by freshman Madelief Molier and junior Jola Ollrogge securing the win for the Dukes***.***

Game Notes

JMU hosted Villanova for the first time in program history.
The Dukes advanced to a 4-1 record over the Wildcats, dating back to 1996.
Tambroni registered the first goal of her career (38:40).
Brown scores her first goal of the season (49:16) which is her first goal since Oct. 23, 2022, against Cal.
Five saves are the most by a JMU goalkeeper since Katie Fricke Oct. 22 against Old Dominion

Up Next
The Dukes face American University (0-1) next Friday, Sept. 6 at the JMU Field Hockey Complex. The game is scheduled to start at 5 pm; Follow along on ESPN+.