James Madison won a defensive battle against Virginia Tech for its first victory as an American Athletic Conference member, while Old Dominion's comeback bid against VCU came up short in in the Monarchs' bid for a 2-0 start.
No. 12 James Madison 8, Virginia Tech 6
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Isabella Peterson had three goals and an assist and the James Madison defense limited Virginia Tech to one second-half goal in an 8-6 win against the Hokies Wednesday afternoon.
The Dukes (1-1) held a 6-5 lead at halftime, but goalie Kat Buchanan made four of her six saves in the final 30 minutes to stymie the Hokies. James Madison forced 17 Virginia Tech turnovers.
Peterson figured in four of the Monarchs' eight goals, including two of James Madison's three second-half scores. She completed her hat trick with 13:55 left in the third quarter by finishing a feed from Maddie Epke and she set up Caitlin McElwee for a key insurance goal with 6:32 left in the fourth to give the Monarchs an 8-6 cushion.
The win was the first for James Madison as a member of the American Athletic Conference.
VCU 14, Old Dominion 8
RICHMOND, Va. – The Old Dominion Women's lacrosse (1-1) team fell to VCU on Wednesday by a final score of 14-8. Lilly Siskind led the Monarchs offensively with three goals.
VCU (1-1) got on the board first from a Savannah Slack goal. Siskind tied the game up at one after Moira Olexa found her in front of goal. VCU would take a 4-1 lead before Siskind took a free position shot and converted it with one second left in the first quarter.
The second quarter was controlled by VCU as they would score six goals to the Monarchs one.
Sydney Taylor scored the one goal in the second quarter as ODU went into halftime trailing 10-3.
VCU scored first in the third quarter giving then an 11-3 lead. The Monarchs answered with three goals of their own. Haley O'Connor, Sydney Taylor and Olexa scored to make the score 11-6 at the end of the third quarter.
VCU took a 12-6 lead with an early goal in the fourth quarter. Danielle Dundas scored on a free position shot for ODU to make the score 12-7. Siskind then follow with her third goal when Olexa assisted her to cut the VCU lead to four goals. VCU added two more goals making the final 14-8.