Box Score
STONY BROOK, N.Y. (May 27, 2018) – The Dukes are the National Champions. Third-seeded James Madison clipped fourth-seeded Boston College, 16-15, to win its first-ever NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship this afternoon at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium.
James Madison (22-1) was making its first-ever national title game appearance while it was only the second-ever for the league, with the last appearance coming in 1997. This is the 15th NCAA Championship trophy for the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and first in the sport of women’s lacrosse. The CAA has won six national titles in football, six national titles in field hockey, one in women’s soccer and one in indoor track. James Madison Football won national titles in 2016 and 2004 while Delaware Field Hockey won the national championship in 2016.
Senior
Haley Warden, the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player, finished the day with four goals and three draw controls, to set the CAA single season record. Tewaaraton finalist
Kristen Gaudian, junior
Hanna Haven, and senior
Elena Romesburg all had hat tricks. Haven and Gaudian joined Warden on the All-Tournament Team as did goalie
Molly Dougherty, who had seven saves.
James Madison jumped out to a 2-0 lead on back-to-back goals by Haven at 28:43 and 25:35. Boston College (22-2) got on the board at 22:05 on a strike from Dempsey Arsenault. The Dukes quickly made it a three-goal advantage on consecutive goals by Hardt. BC’s Taylor Walker cut the lead in half at 15:41 on a nifty free position shot. The Eagles added another goal at 14:59 on a top-shelf tally by Tewaaraton Finalist Sam Apuzzo. The Eagles tied it up 48 seconds later as Apuzzo found Cara Urbank on the doorstep. Boston College took its first lead of the day at 13:11 as Tess Chandler bounced one in.
James Madison stopped the run at 11:23 as Kerrigan fed Romesburg for her 64th goal of the season. Romesburg struck again at 9:43 with Kerrigan feeding her once more to return the lead to the Dukes. Gaudian made it 7-5 at 8:13 with her 78th goal of the season. Boston College made it a one-goal game at 4:42 as Chandler put home an Apuzzo pass. Warden got the goal back less than a minute later on an unassisted tally at 3:57 but Apuzzo countered a minute later to pull the Eagles within 8-7. With 50.5 seconds remaining, Walker shoveled in the game-tying goal. The score would hold at the break.
Boston College opened the scoring in the second half with back-to-back goals in the first 3:31 for the 10-8 lead. James Madison responded with two goals of their own from Haven and
Maddie McDaniel to tie the game up at 10-10. Romesburg broke the stalemate at 17:21 for the hat trick while Gaudian scored the Dukes’ fourth unanswered goal at 14:58. The Eagles stopped the run at 10:59 as Arsenault popped in her second of the game. JMU continued to push, opening up 14-11 lead after back-to-back goals from Warden.
The Eagles cut into the lead once more, pulling within 14-12 at 4:07. Gaudian came through with a big goal at 3:21 but Kaileen Hart pulled the Eagles within 15-14. Warden answered at 1:05 but Chandler scored with 22 seconds left to make it 16-15. Warden won the ensuing draw control, setting the CAA single season record, and ran out the clock to victory.
For Boston College, Apuzzo had seven points (3g, 4a) and eight draw controls while Chandler finished with four goals. Arsenault added two goals and three assists.
JMU caused 11 turnovers while BC only caused four. The Eagles had a 20-13 advantage in draw controls while ground balls were even at 13 apiece.
#CAALAX NOTABLES: Gaudian brought her goal total to 80 this season, one goal shy of the CAA single season record which was set in 2004 by former Duke Gail Decker … Gaudian, the CAA Player of the Year, also posted 96 points, which is third all-time in CAA single season history … Warden finished the year with 108 draw controls, breaking the CAA single season record which was held by Towson Tiger and current William & Mary Coach Hillary Fratzke … Warden finished her career with 245 draw controls, good for second all-time in CAA history … Kerrigan finished the season with 60 assists, the new CAA single season record. She finished her career with 106 assists, good for fifth all-time in CAA history.