NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 4 James Madison lacrosse grabbed the lead and quickly ran away from Vanderbilt, winning an 18-1 decision against the Commodores at the Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex in Nashville on Saturday.

JMU won its 13th consecutive game to improve to 13-1 (4-0) while Vanderbilt fell to 3-9 (1-3).

Redshirt junior Isabella Peterson, senior Tai Jankowski, junior Katelyn Morgan and sophomore Savannah Derey each marked hat tricks for the Dukes, with Peterson leading the way with five goals to go with a game-high six draw controls. The 18 goals marks JMU’s third-most this season and most in American Athletic Conference play and the Dukes did so on a 51.4% shooting mark from the field.

The defense allowed just 13 total shots and held its first opponent to one goal since Wofford on March 12, 2021. Individually, redshirt senior Rachel Matey picked up four ground balls, caused two turnovers and added five draw controls to her total. From the midfield, redshirt senior Lizzy Fox caused four turnovers and added two ground balls defensively.

Nancy Halleron scored Vanderbilt’s lone goal while goalkeeper Paige Gunning made six saves in three quarters.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter – James Madison 2, Vanderbilt 0
Jankowski scored to break a 10:55 scoreless deadlock before Peterson scored 25 seconds later. Kat Buchanan made four saves in the quarter to keep the Commodores out of the lead.

Second Quarter – James Madison 10, Vanderbilt 0
The Dukes matched their most goals in a quarter this season with eight, sending 15 shots toward the Vanderbilt cage while the Commodores did not manage one. Morgan had three goals in the quarter alone with a behind-the-back finish to complete the hat trick. The Dukes racked up six draw controls and seven ground balls in the period.

Third Quarter – James Madison 14, Vanderbilt 1
Peterson scored twice in a 11:55 span to make things 12-0 before Derey and Jankowski closed the scoring just 1:02 apart.

Fourth Quarter – James Madison 18, Vanderbilt 1
Derey completed her hat trick in 5:34 dating back to the third quarter while junior Geneva Mattis scored her first goal since the 2021 season to cap the scoring. The defense did not allow a shot on goal for Vanderbilt in the quarter.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• The Dukes won their 13th straight conference game dating back to the 2021 season.
• Four Dukes had hat tricks in a game for the first time since April 30, 2022 at Drexel.
• JMU caused 15 turnovers as a team on Saturday, second-most this year.
• The 13 shots allowed were the fewest in a game this season.
• JMU has out-scored opponents 58-20 in conference play this season.
• Peterson scored five goals for the sixth time this season and 18th time in her career.

RECORDS AND MILESTONES
• Mairead Durkin added one caused turnover to her total to move to sole possession of second in the all-time JMU caused turnover rankings, seven away from breaking Emma Johnson’s record.
• Peterson is now 15 goals away from breaking the JMU goals record currently held by Gail Decker.

UP NEXT
The Dukes return home for the final time in the regular season on Sunday, April 16 against Cincinnati.

— JMU Athletics —