April 7, 1999

HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Cavaliers used a balanced scoring attack to come back from a 6-1 deficit to upset the third ranked Dukes of James Madison 11-9 Wednesday night in Harrisonburg. Virginia's Jamie Haas (Berwyn, Pa./Marple Newtown) won 10 draws, scored two goals and assisted on three others to spark the attack.

After Virginia scored the opening goal on Samm Taylor's (Springfield, Va./Robinson) unassisted goal, James Madison went on a six-goal run in 17 minutes to take a 6-1 lead. The Dukes scored at the 25:29 mark to tie the game, and then went on a three-goal run in 1:24 to go up 4-1, forcing the Cavaliers to take a time out. After the time out, the Dukes scored twice, with their last goal from Michelle Zurfluh coming at the 8:14 mark of the first half.

From there the Cavalier midfield roared to life, disrupting the Dukes' attack and forcing five broken clears. Haas won the draw and the Cavaliers moved down to a set attack, where Molly Cangemi (Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame Prep) scored on a crease challenge at 7:26 to start the Virginia run. On the next set attack, Haas fed a wide-open Gina Sambus (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) on the crease to move the Cavaliers to 6-3. Haas scored herself just over a minute later on a free position to move the Cavaliers within two at 6-4. James Madison's Megan Riley had a pair of free positions in the final six seconds, but she was stopped both times by Francis Segarra (Coto Laurel, Puerto Rico) , who had eight saves for UVa.

The Cavaliers tied the game on a pair of incredible individual efforts by senior captain Jess Hull (Arnold, Md./Boradneck). In the midst of a clear, Hull took the ball at the restraining line and drove to the goal, scoring at the 26:49 mark. On the next draw, Haas got control and got the ball to Hull again at the restraining line, who drove to the cage just 32 seconds later, tying the game.

The Dukes took the lead again on a broken clear as they forced the turnover and McNevin Molloy fed Julie Martinez on the crease at 23:50. Virginia tied the game a second time three minutes later as Amy Fromal (Folsom, Pa./Ridley) took a fast break to the crease and scored at 20:47.

Virginia took the lead for a second time as Haas hit Mills Hook (Lutherville, Md./St. Paul's) on a quickstick feed at 16:35. The Dukes forced a fourth tie when Martinez scored on a drive to the cage at 14:26.

But the Cavaliers took the lead for good when Ashley Widger (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) caused a turnover in the Virginia defensive end and transitioned the ball to the attack, when Hook hit senior captain Mia Mooney (Rosemont, Pa./Shipley) at the 8:48 mark. Haas won the next draw and the Cavaliers took it into the attack, where Melissa Hayes (Chevy Chase, Md./Georgetown Visitation) drew a shooting space violation and stuck the ball in the lower left corner to put the Cavaliers up by two at 7:52.

Again the Cavaliers won the draw and controlled the ball in their offensive end, holding a patient attack until Haas hit Mooney at 3:29 to put the Cavaliers up 11-8.

James Madison attempted a comeback as they controlled the next draw and worked it down to their offensive end where Julie Weiss took a one-on-one to the cage and scored with 2:22 to go. But Haas won her fifth draw of the half and the Cavaliers controlled possession for almost the rest of the game. The Dukes caused a turnover with 14 seconds to go and they brought the ball down field where JMU's Jess Marion drew a foul and a free position attempt with 2 seconds to go, but Segarra saved the shot to preserve the win and the upset.

Virginia was led by Widger's four caused turnovers and Lauri Kenis' (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) five ground balls.

The Cavaliers return to action this weekend as they host a pair of ranked teams in Klockner Stadium. The second ranked Duke Blue Devils come to town on Saturday at 12:00 and on Sunday the 17th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores take on the Cavaliers.

VIRGINIA vs JAMES MADISON GAME SUMMARY
                    1  2  Final (Records)
Virginia (#4)       4  7  11 (7-3)
James Madison (#3)  6  3  9 (7-3)