HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – A balanced and efficient offensive performance propelled James Madison field hockey (7-6, 6-1 MAC) to its sixth consecutive victory as the Dukes defeated Central Michigan 3-1 on Senior Day Sunday afternoon at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.
Eight different Dukes recorded shots, with Azul Covarrubias and Avery Ruckman leading the squad with three attempts apiece. Seniors Brynna Hill and Ava Drexler-Amey each found the back of the net, while Mika Hilburger recorded her first career goal.
JMU outpaced Central Michigan in total shots, 17-12, shots on goal, 12-7, and penalty corners, 5-4. Senior Lilly Sweeney earned her seventh win of the season, making six saves and registering a .857 save percentage, her second-highest single-game mark of the season.
How It Happened
• The Dukes capitalized on their first-quarter dominance when Diede Donders charged into the shooting circle and fired a shot that deflected off a CMU defender and found the stick of Drexler-Amey. The Severna Park, Md., native flicked the ball into the cage with her backhand to put JMU ahead 1-0 in the ninth minute.
• After carrying a 1-0 advantage into halftime, JMU doubled its lead in the 32nd minute when Ella Dunstan fired a shot off a penalty corner that trickled to Hilburger at the back post. Hilburger unleashed a powerful strike beneath the CMU goalkeeper’s pads to notch her first career goal and give the Dukes a 2-0 advantage.
• JMU executed another penalty corner to perfection early in the fourth quarter as Hill played a short pass to Dunstan off the insertion. Dunstan fed Covarrubias, who fired a powerful shot that ricocheted off the goalkeeper and fell to the waiting stick of Hill. The fourth-year midfielder buried her sixth goal of the season to extend JMU’s lead to 3-0.
Game Notes
• With the win, JMU extended its winning streak to six games dating back to Sept. 27. Four of those victories have come by multiple goals, including the last two, as the Dukes have outscored their opponents 24-6 during that span.
• JMU improved to 6-1 in MAC play, moving into a tie for second place with Miami as both the Dukes and RedHawks hold 18 points. The two programs trail only Massachusetts, which leads the conference with 21 points.
• JMU improved to 5-0-1 in the all-time series against Central Michigan, having won each of the last five meetings.
• Hill found the back of the net for the sixth time this season as the Downingtown, Pa., native brought her season point total to 16, the second most on the team.
Up Next
James Madison remains at home to face App State on Friday at 2 p.m. at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.
— JMU Athletics —
