Hokie ClubHARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison jumped out to a quick lead and the Virginia Tech Hokies fell 16-3 to Dukes in a non-conference match played Wednesday night in Harrisonburg, Va.
Tech had three goal scorers in the game as Emile Hunter, Jessica Nonn and Caitlyn Wier each had one. For the Dukes, Kim Griffin led the way with four goals in the Dukes’ first game of the season.
James Madison started the game attacking, using physical play and quickness to catch Tech (1-2) out of position and find the back of the net. The Dukes won the first three draw controls of the game and capitalized almost immediately on each possession. Mary Kate Lomady was the first to score for the Dukes, just over two minutes into the game, and Casey Ancarrow and Ariel Lane tacked on two more.
James Madison would continue to work through the half, scoring a fourth goal after a brief Tech possession and adding five more before Hunter broke up the shutout and put Tech on the board with 3:49 remaining in the first half. The score was Hunter’s first of the season and came off a free position attempt after she was fouled in front of the goal.
The second half began similarly to the start of the game with the Dukes striking early, burying two goals in the first four minutes of the half. The Hokies were also able to generate some offense early in the half when Nonn became the second Tech player to score in the game, as she, too, put a free position attempt in the back of the goal.
Wier made an opportunity for herself with 17:53 remaining in the game when she came from behind the left side of the goal with the ball, weaving through defenders and dumping the ball into the opposite side of the goal just over the goalie for Tech’s third and final goal of the game.
The Dukes ended up putting in four more goals, including two more from Ancarrow, to secure the victory.
For Tech, freshman Alex Gale earned her second start of the season and finished the first half with three saves, allowing nine goals. Freshman Alexis Carey would replace Gale in the second half and make two saves while allowing seven goals. For the Dukes, Morgan Kelly played the full 60 minutes, making six saves in the game.
The Hokies will play again Saturday, Feb. 27 as they travel to George Mason for a 1 p.m. game.