IRVING, Texas – After helping lead a pair of strong team defensive efforts, James Madison lacrosse defender Rachel Matey was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon.

Matey, the defensive captain on the roster, helped guide the Dukes to two wins behind a weekly scoring defense of 6.50. JMU held both opponents in Virginia Tech and UConn to fewer than 20 total shots and both games featured a scoreless quarter from the defense.

Individually, Matey caused five opposition turnovers and added six ground balls, contributing multiple of both stats in both games. In the circle, Matey had nine total draw controls with seven coming against the Huskies. Saturday marked the 11th game Matey gained at least seven draw controls in her career.

The redshirt senior also hit a career milestone this week, becoming just the second player in JMU history to reach 200 draw controls. She joined former All-American Haley Warden as the only Dukes to reach 200 draws.

She is the first Duke to gain an American Athletic Conference weekly award.

Goalkeeper Kat Buchanan was mentioned for her weekly performance on The American Honor Roll. The goalkeeper put up a 6.50 goals-against average and made 13 saves on a .500 save percentage in her third and fourth career starts.

JMU improved its record to 2-1 with its victories and notched Shelley Klaes’ 200th head coaching victory with the program. The Dukes are back in action Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m., taking on High Point.

— JMU Athletics —