The Dukes beat Cincinnati to advance to the American Athletic Conference finals

PHILADELPHIA No. 6 James Madison lacrosse has advanced to the American Championship final, fending off a strong challenge from Cincinnati 13-7 at Howarth Field in Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon.

The Dukes extended their program record with their 17th straight win to improve to 17-1, while the Bearcats finished the season at 11-7.

Redshirt junior Isabella Peterson scored four goals on eight shots to lead JMU, adding two assists for a six-point day and drawing a game-high six. Senior Or Jankowski and a redshirt junior Taylor Marchetti each added a pair of goals as freshmen Maddie Epke he also had two assists left.

Defensive end, redshirt senior Rachel Matey picked up five ground balls, added a caused turnover and grabbed three pull controls. Second year student Nichole Marshall caused two rounds on three globes. Redshirt senior Kat Buchanan made five saves and added three ground balls.

Junior Ava Goeller had three goals for the Bearcats, all in the first quarter. Goalie Ashley Lapp made eight saves and added six ground balls and caused a turnover.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN
First Quarter James Madison 4, Cincinnati 3

The Bearcats scored the first two goals, just the second time a JMU opponent scored first this season. The Dukes responded with three goals in 1:56, two from free range. Cincinnati tied the game 26 seconds later at 2:31, but Matey’s interception led to Peterson’s score with 5.8 seconds left in the first quarter.

Second Quarter James Madison 7, Cincinnati 5

Peterson, Sr Lilly Boswell and a redshirt sophomore Maggie Clark everyone scored as JMU led by as many as three periods. Dukes took control of the tie 4-2.

Third quarter James Madison 8, Cincinnati 5

Epke scored the only goal of the quarter before both teams went scoreless in the final 11:50.

Fourth quarter James Madison 13, Cincinnati 7

Peterson scored twice to extend the lead to five, and JMU continued to pull away thanks to the goals Olivia Mattis, Jankowski and Marchetti. JMJ fired nine shots at the Cincinnati net and scored just one turnover.

WITHIN THE NUMBERS

• The Dukes advanced to their eighth straight conference championship game and won their ninth straight game in the conference tournament.
• Cincinnati committed 21 turnovers, the most this season and the fifth time a JMU opponent has committed 20 or more this season.
• Eight different Dukes scored as JMU had a 30-17 advantage on the boards.
• Including the postseason, JMU has now outscored conference opponents 107-40.
• Dukes shot 4-5 from free range.

records and milestones

• Peterson is eight goals away from breaking Gail Decker’s record for most goals scored in a season.
• As a team, JMU is up to 126 assists, which is fourth most all-time and 30 shy of the 2018 program record.
• The team’s 48 free-position goals tied the 2023 team for fifth all-time in program history.

NEXT

JMU will play the winner of No. 2 Florida and No. 3 East Carolina in the American Athletic Conference final on Saturday, which will be decided later Thursday night. The first draw for Saturday’s championship game will take place at noon on ESPN+.