Tribe Knocks Off No. 20 JMU in Wild Game

from press release

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary lacrosse team rallied back from a five-goal deficit midway through the second half to earn a thrilling 14-13 overtime victory against No. 20 James Madison on Friday evening at Albert-Daly Field. Sophomore Sarah Jonson scored the game-winner with just 0.5 seconds remaining in the extra session.

With the victory, W&M has now defeated JMU five consecutive times. The last three meetings have all been decided in overtime.

Sophomore Grace Golden also came up big for the Tribe (6-6, 2-1) with a game-high six points on five goals and an assist. The Manhasset, N.Y., native also contributed four ground balls, a draw control and a caused turnover. Junior Mary Zulty, classmate Katie Rees and sophomore Maggie Anderson also had impressive performances and registered two goals apiece. Anderson’s stat line also included an assist, three ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Zulty tallied an assist and four draw controls to go with her goals.

Defensively, sophomore keeper Emily Geary totaled 10 saves and a game-high seven ground balls, while freshman Sarah Mulvey recorded three caused turnovers and four ground balls.

Things looked good for the College early, as it jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the opening minutes of play. Anderson put W&M the scoreboard first off a feed from Zulty on a free position opportunity with 26:07 showing, while Anderson returned the favor to Zulty for a score just 15 seconds later.

JMU (5-7, 1-2) finally got on the scoreboard with 17:54 on the clock when Monica Zabel took the team’s first shot of the contest. The teams then traded a pair of goals during the remainder of the half, as W&M held a 4-3 edge at the intermission. Rees and sophomore Molly Wannen provided the Green and Gold’s final two goals of the stanza.

Although the Dukes registered the first goal of the second period to knot the score, the Tribe quickly answered when Golden found the back of the cage on a free position shot with 28:18 remaining. However, James Madison responded with six unanswered goals during the next 11 minutes to build a 10-5 advantage.

Goals by Golden and freshman Sally Roberts midway through the half cut the lead to 10-7. While James Madison’s Susan Lines pushed the margin back to four, 11-7, with 12:07 on the clock, W&M answered with a goals by Rees and Golden to chip away again.

A goal by JMU’s Ashley Kimener with 4:09 left increased the margin to 12-9, but the Tribe countered with four unanswered goals during an exciting stretch to take the lead. Zulty ignited the run with a goal off a feed from Golden with 3:32 showing, while Anderson followed with an unassisted score just 33 seconds later. Golden then found the back of the cage twice in the next 1:20 to complete the impressive comeback.

The Dukes would respond, however, and Jaime Dardine’s goal with 58 second left helped send the contest into overtime.

W&M took the only shot in the initial three-minute overtime session, but Zulty’s attempt sailed high. After JMU’s Ariel Lane had a shot hit the post in the final minute, Golden corralled the loose ball. After being fouled near midfield with eight seconds remaining, Golden found Jonson who raced down the middle and shot high for the game-winning score.