The No. 17 Cavaliers (9-7, 4-2 ACC) could not handle No. 4 JMU (14-1, 4-0 CAA) in their final home match of the season losing 15-10. JMU came into the game as the fifth best scoring offense in the country as well as tied for the fourth best defense. After a convincing victory over Louisville over the weekend that stopped a four game skid, Virginia could not pull off an upset against the fourth top five team they have faced this season.
The Cavaliers have had a tendency to fall behind early in games this season and force themselves to work back from a deficit. JMU was no different as the Dukes scored the first five goals of the game with Virginia finally getting on the board after 20 minutes of play.
The Cavaliers could only manage to pull the game back to within three goals, 9-6, early in the second half before JMU went on a run of their own and ballooned their lead up to seven with thirteen minutes to play. Both teams had 30 shots each on the night, JMU simply took better advantage of their opportunities.
Senior midfielder Kasey Behr led the team in scoring, netting three goals, while junior midfielder Maggie Jackson scored a goal of her own and added three assists. For JMU three players netted hat-tricks as senior attacker Kristen Gaudian scored five goals, junior attacker Hanna Haven had four, and senior midfielder Haley Warden added three.
Virginia has one final game of the regular season this Saturday, April 21 at 1 p.m. on the road against Virginia Tech. A win against the rival Hokies will be key heading into the ACC Tournament next week.