SPARKS, Md. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison lacrosse senior attacker Isabella Peterson earned USA Lacrosse Division I Women’s All-American First Team honors and sophomore attacker Maddie Epke was tabbed an Honorable Mention, the organization announced on Thursday.

Peterson’s USA Lacrosse All-American nod is the third of the captain’s career. In 2023 she was named to the First Team and in 2022 she garnered Honorable Mention.

The senior currently leads the team in goals (68), points (78), shots (135) and shots on goal (103) heading into the first weekend of the NCAA Championship. In her 17 games played she recorded a hat trick in all but one of them and notched five goals in six different outings. Nationally she is ranked eighth in goals (68), goals per game (4.00) and shots on goal per game (6.06), 12th in shots per game (7.94) and 25th in points per game (4.59).

In addition to her USA Lacrosse First Team All-American honors, Peterson was named a Tewaaraton Award nominee for the third time in her career, was unanimously named to the American Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference and earned nine weekly AAC awards.

The Sparks, Md. native’s dominant performances on the field resulted in her being one of 16 graduating seniors drafted in the Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse College Draft on Wednesday evening.

Epke’s first career USA Lacrosse All-American honor comes after a record-breaking season on the Dukes’ attack. She now holds the JMU single-season draw control record of 171 and the single-game draw control record of 19, which she set against Richmond on April 3.

The sophomore’s 9.50 draw controls per game rank fifth in the nation and her 171 draw controls on the season lead JMU lacrosse. Additionally, she is second on the team in goals (51) and points (73), as well as third in assists (22).

The native of Guilford, Conn. garnered a plethora of awards this season, including IWLCA Offensive Player of the Week twice, USA Lacrosse Player of the Week, an American Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference unanimous selection as well as four weekly AAC awards. She was also named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List midseason.

The duo will begin NCAA Championship play as the No. 19 Dukes take on No. 15 Penn State in the first round on Friday, May 10 at 3 p.m. in College Park, Md.

— JMU Athletics —