HARRISONBURG, Va., April 17, 2009 -- Delaware built an 8-2 halftime lead en route to a 10-6 women's lacrosse win over James Madison in Colonial Athletic Association action Friday evening at the JMU Lacrosse Complex.

Delaware won for the fourth time in its last five games and upped its overall record to 8-6. The Blue Hens are 4-1 in league play and are in a three-way tie for first in the CAA standings. Old Dominion and William and Mary also have 4-1 records after posting league wins Friday.

JMU dropped to 5-9 overall and 1-4 in CAA play. The Dukes, who are tied for sixth in the league standings, are now out of the running for a berth in the four-team CAA Tournament.

Delaware never trailed in Friday's contest, although the score was tied at 2-2 12:07 into the game. Then the Blue Hens racked up six unanswered goals in a span of just under 13 minutes, sprinting ahead to an 8-2 lead with 3:47 left in the half.

Sophomore Holly Burman (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) started the run with a goal at 16:43, assisted by junior Emily Schaknowski (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River). Burman then converted a free-position attempt at 10:07.

Then a foul on JMU junior goalkeeper Morgan Kelly (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's) left a wide-open net, and a free-position shot by Delaware sophomore Ali Libertini (Parkton, Md./Mount de Sales Academy) gave the Blue Hens a 5-2 lead at 9:48.

Delaware senior Alexis Curcio (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) scored the next two goals, one at 8:40 off a pass from junior Courtney Aburn (Jarrettsville, Md./John Carroll) and another on a free-position shot at 5:59.

A score by senior Debbie Sloan (Thornton, Pa./West Chester East) assisted by Burman at 3:47 completed the 6-0 scoring run. Meanwhile, JMU took 10 shots in the final 16 minutes of the half, with five of those saved by Delaware senior goalkeeper Jessica Cerveny (Islip, N.Y./Islip). Four attempts were wide of the goal and another shot hit the goalpost.

The Dukes, however, opened the second half by scoring on their first three shots, all in the first 3:28, to close the margin to 8-5. JMU senior Jaime Dardine (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) netted an unassisted goal at 28:40, then freshman Ashley Kimener (Oakton, Va./Oakton) scored on a fr e! ! e-position shot at 28:06. Freshman Monica Zabel (Ellicott City, Md./Mt./Hebron) finished the run with an unassisted score at 26:32.

After Cerveny saved a Kimener shot at 23:49, JMU got a boost from Kelly, who stopped Delaware's next three shots. That included back-to-back saves at 19:22 and 19:18. Delaware pushed its lead to 9-5 when Burman scored off a Schaknowski pass at 11:28.

JMU responded with a free-position goal by sophomore Mary Kate Lomady (Abington, Pa./Abington) at 9:45, cutting the Delaware lead to 9-6. However, Delaware's Sloan scored, assisted by Aburn, at 6:49. The Blue Hens controlled the ensuing draw and were able to maintain possession until the final minutes to put the game away.

Burman and Curcio each finished with three goals ,and Libertini and Sloan each scored twice. JMU was led by Lomady with two goals and an assist.

JMU's Kelly finished with four saves, while Delaware's Cerveny made eight saves.

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HARRISONBURG, Va. -- The University of Delaware women's lacrosse team defeated Colonial Athletic Association foe James Madison 10-6 on the road Friday night on the strength of three goals apiece by senior Alexis Curcio and sophomore Holly Burman.

James Madison (5-9, 1-4) out-shot Delaware (8-6, 4-1) 25-17, won the groundball battle 12-9 and draw control battle 10-8, but only converted three of 14 free-position attempts as Delaware goalkeeper Jessica Cerveny made eight saves to pick up the win. The Blue Hens, meanwhile, converted all four of their free-position shots.

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2009-04-18