RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond goalkeeper Kristen Rake stopped five shots while the Spiders held James Madison to just two penalty corners to earn a 3-0 shutout on Sunday afternoon at Crenshaw Field.

JMU and UR both move on to 1-1 early in the season. The Spiders host American on Friday at 5 p.m. for the third game of their four-game homestand to open the year.

The Dukes’ netminder Brandelynn Heinbaugh made a pair of saves in the loss. Junior Cassidy Strittmatter managed to place two shots on goal but was denied both times by Rake. In total, James Madison took seven shots, five of which were on cage.

How It Happened
• After a quiet opening 10 minutes, Richmond snuck one past Heinbaugh during a scramble in front of the net.
• The Spiders added to their lead with 3:11 remaining in the first frame as UR’s Kaitlyn Csensits found herself wide open for the goal after a quick reset of play.
• Richmond’s 2-0 lead would hold for the rest of the first half.
• Both teams locked in during the third quarter, as the score remained 2-0 in favor of Richmond heading into the fourth.
• The Dukes’ offense applied pressure early in the final period, but their two shots on goal were denied by Rake.
• The Spiders earned a penalty corner with just over three minutes remaining, converting on the opportunity with a tip to make it 3-0.
• JMU had one more chance on a rush, however, Rake left her line to thwart the Dukes’ attack.

Game Notes
• The loss marked James Madison’s first to Richmond since 2013.
• JMU still leads the all-time series over UR, 45-7-1. Coming into the game, the Dukes had won the past eight consecutive contests.
• James Madison only earned two penalty corners in Richmond and five total in the team’s first two games. In 2022, the Dukes averaged nearly six corners per game (5.94).
• Going back to last season, the Purple and Gold have been shut out twice in the past three games. The Dukes fell on the road in the season finale at #21 Rutgers on Oct. 30, 2022. In the stretch, JMU has been outscored 8-4.

Quoting Head Coach Christy Morgan
“And this is sport. Don’t let the highs get too high, and don’t let the lows get too low. We didn’t show up today – what a great lesson. We will use it to grow.”

Up Next
After starting the season with two road games, the Dukes will return to Harrisonburg to host Columbia on Friday, Sept. 1. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.

— JMU Athletics —