HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison field hockey scored three goals in the game’s opening 23 minutes and held on for a 3-2 victory over Central Michigan in Mid-American Conference play at the JMU Field Hockey Complex on a rainy Friday afternoon.

With the win, the Dukes (5-2, 2-0 MAC) matched their win total from the 2023 campaign when the program went 5-12 as an independent.

had balanced scoring with goals from senior Samantha Grimes, freshman Lilly Turner and junior Alice Roeper. Sophomore Ava Drexler-Amey and Turner both added an assist in the win.

For the Chippewas (3-6, 0-2 MAC), Mallory Camryn was the lone goal scorer, while Zoey Emrick, Shannon Dwyer and Simone Potgieter each recorded an assist. In goal, Coletta Beeler made six saves in 58:10 of action.

Quoting Head Coach Christy Morgan
“We did not play our best hockey, but we played well enough to be effective. Central Michigan came out really strong. They have grown a lot and have effective players. We did not execute our second-half adjustments. We won the battle and will regroup for Queens (N.C.) on Sunday.”

How It Happened
• Grimes collected a rebound off a shot from fifth-year Carissa Tambroni and put it home to give the Dukes a 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the contest.
• Turner scored off an inlet pass from Drexler-Amey early in the second for a 2-0 JMU cushion.
• Roeper batted in a ball from Turner for the Dukes’ third and final goal, scoring at the 7:36 mark of the second.
• The Chippewas responded four minutes later on an uneven rush as Emrick found Camryn who dribbled around redshirt freshman Molly Schreiner to cut the deficit to 3-1.
• Early in the third, Camryn struck again, this time on a penalty corner with assists from Dwyer and Potgieter.
• CMU pulled Beeler with 1:50 remaining but failed to register a shot to fall 3-2.

Game Notes
• JMU leads Central Michigan, 2-0-1, in the all-time series dating back to 1989.
• The Dukes held the advantage in shots (25-3) and shots on goal (12-3).
• Grimes’ goal was her first of the season and first since scoring in the 2023 season finale against Queens (N.C.) on Nov. 4. Additionally, she is credited with the game-winning goal, the first of her career.
• Strittmatter earned her 50th career start in her 60th appearance for the JMU.
• Turner has scored in back-to-back conference games with both of her goals coming off assists from Drexler-Amey. Moreover, Turner’s assist was the first of her career.
• Junior Julie Narleski made her first collegiate start in the win.

Up Next
The Dukes will open the month of October on the road at Ohio on Friday, Oct. 4. Mid-American Conference field hockey action in Athens, Ohio is scheduled for 1 p.m.

— JMU Athletics —