HARRISONBURG, Va. – A 9-0 run in the final 19:35 lifted No. 8 James Madison lacrosse to its seventh straight victory, fending off a challenge from No. 23 Johns Hopkins 17-10 at Sentara Park on Saturday.

Saturday’s victory improved JMU to 7-1 while Johns Hopkins dropped to 3-4.

Redshirt junior Isabella Peterson scored seven goals and added and assists for eight points in total. Two other Dukes added hat tricks in Tai Jankowski and Brianna Mennella, as Mennella marked her first hat trick of her career.

The Dukes’ offense moved the ball to the tune of nine assists with four each from Katelyn Morgan and Jankowski. Combined with her three goals, Jankowski totaled seven points, which tied her career high.

Away from the attack, the defense held the Blue Jays scoreless for the final 22:13 of the contest. Rachel Matey caused a pair of turnovers and led the Dukes with seven draw controls. Midfielder Lizzy Fox added four ground balls, as Dukes totaled at least 20 for the third time this season.

For Johns Hopkins, Ava Angello, Abbey Hurlbrink and Jordan Carr each scored twice while Annie Marshall led the Blue Jays with seven draw controls.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter – Johns Hopkins 6, James Madison 4
The Blue Jays scored three goals in a span of 50 seconds to take a 3-0 lead. JMU closed to within a goal twice, but tallies from Hurlbrink and Carr extended the lead before the end of the quarter. Theis was the most goals JMU had given up in a quarter this season.

Second Quarter – James Madison 7, Johns Hopkins 7
Peterson scored all three JMU goals in the quarter, going on a 4-0 run by herself in 8:50 going back to the end of the first. JHU then responded to tie things going into halftime. The Blue Jays failed on five clears in the quarter.

Third Quarter – James Madison 10, Johns Hopkins 10
Johns Hopkins grabbed a pair of two-goal leads but goals by Savannah Derey and Peterson re-tied things with 15 minutes to play. There were five cards in the quarter between the two teams.

Fourth Quarter – James Madison 17, Johns Hopkins 10
JMU continued its run that began in the third quarter, aided by two more penalties and 16 total fouls from the Blue Jays. Three of the seven goals were a woman-up strike. Five different Dukes scored in the quarter with Jankowski and Mennella finishing twice.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• The Dukes reached 20 ground balls for the third time this season, already surpassing their two 20-ground-ball performances in 2022.
• In total, 14 different JMU players collected at least one ground ball on the day.
• Saturday was the first time this season three players had hat tricks in the same game.
• Conversely, the defense did not allow a hat trick to an opponent for the sixth time this year.
• The game had 85 total fouls, 52 by Johns Hopkins and 33 by JMU.
• Peterson reached seven goals in a game for the third time in her career.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will begin American Athletic Conference play on Saturday, March 18 against No. 10 Florida. First draw is set for noon on ESPN+. The two sides will match up for the first time in since the 2018 NCAA Quarterfinals, where JMU won 9-6.

— JMU Athletics —