GREENVILLE, N.C. (JMU Athletics) – Down 13-11 with just over four minutes to go, #11 James Madison lacrosse sparked a 2-0 run and caused a turnover in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, before Olivia Matthews scored on the opening possession to give the Dukes a 14-13 win over East Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Johnson Stadium.

The win clinches the number one seed for JMU (12-4, 6-0 AAC) at next week’s conference tournament in Norfolk as well as the outright regular season championship, as the Dukes completed a clean-sheet in league play, carrying a six-game win streak into the postseason.

Matthews and Savannah Derey each recorded hat tricks to lead the attack, with Maddie Epke, Brianna Mennella, and Payton Root all scoring a pair of goals. Although limited offensively, Epke still dominated in the circle as she recorded a game-high 15 draw controls, helping JMU outperform ECU in the circle 21-9.

Defensively, Chloe Bleckley caused three turnovers while Maddie Weybrecht picked up four ground balls and caused two takeaways. Reese Cuviello also caused two takeaways, one arriving in a clutch moment as the Dukes forced OT.

Adanya Moyer made her 12th start in the cage for JMU and made nine saves on 28 shots faced in just under 60 minutes of action. Moyer was relieved by Caitlin Boden for a spell midway in the fourth quarter, before returning for the final three minutes to hold ECU scoreless. ECU was also held to 1-of-5 from free-position opportunities.

The Pirates were paced by Riley Matthiesen with four goals and Katelyn Scalfani with a hat trick. Kayla Wilkes caused four turnovers, while Jamie Behar made sixteen saves in the cage for a .533 save percentage.

How it happened
First Quarter – James Madison 3, East Carolina 2
• The hosts struck first, but JMU didn’t take long to respond and grow a lead as Mennella got her first and Derey notched back-to-back goals to make it 3-1 Dukes at the 8:15 mark of the first.
• It was a quarter of saves as each goalie recorded save percentages of at least .625, and both sides competed in shots (8-9) and drew even in turnovers (3-3) in the period.

Second Quarter – James Madison 5, East Carolina 5
• JMU built a 5-2 lead at the 13:31 mark of the second stanza with scores from Mennella and Root, but saw its lead cut to one with 3:13 to go in the first half and then tied with just under two minutes to go.
• Epke saw her free-position shot saved as time expired in the quarter with both teams knotted up at five. JMU limited its scoring opportunities as it committed six turnovers in the period to ECU’s three.

Third Quarter – James Madison 8, East Carolina 8
• ECU scored to open the third as the Pirates retook the lead for the second time.
• JMU responded less than a minute later to tie things up again, but saw themselves tied with or one step behind the Pirates for the rest of the period as both squads managed three goals to stand at 8-8 heading to the final frame.
Fourth Quarter – James Madison 13, East Carolina 13
• Jordan Peterson gave the Dukes a one-goal lead at 9-8 to open the fourth, but Matthiesen sparked a 5-2 run to give the Pirates an 13-11 lead with 4:07 to play.
• Epke and Root scored on back-to-back possessions as JMU zeroed in on the draw circle to tie it at 13 with 2:17 to go.
• Reese Cuviello made a clutch takeaway with 28 seconds to go, giving JMU one last chance to win in regulation, but Behar saved Derey’s shot as time expired.

Overtime
• Reese Cuviello won the opening draw control, as the Dukes settled into their offense to find Matthews who curled around from the crease to score the game-winner.

Game Notes
• JMU played its first overtime game of 2025, and the first since it won 19-18 over #3 North Carolina on February 10, 2024. The Dukes improved their record to 11-4 in overtime and have won five in a row (since 1974).
• Epke has become the first player in JMU history to record over 200 draws in a single season as she reached 204 in the contest for 2025. The junior also scored for the 35th straight game, and passed head coach Shelley Klaes to move into 11th all-time in career points with 197. The Dukes are also 9-1 when Epke outdraws the opponent herself.
• In her last five outings, Moyer has held opponents to one or fewer free-position goals.
• JMU recorded two scoring runs of 3-0 in the contest, improving its record to 12-1 when doing so. The Dukes also allowed two scoring runs of 3-0 or greater, and improved its record to 6-4 when doing so.
• The Dukes also improved their record to 1-0 this season when tied after three quarters and overcame its latest deficit of the year.

Up next
No. 1 JMU will begin the quest for an AAC Championship as it takes on No. 4 Vanderbilt in the Semifinals on Thursday, May 1. Opening draw is set for 4:30 p.m.

— JMU Athletics —