Next Game:
vs. No. 4 Kent State vs. No. 5 Ball State
11/7/2024 | TBA
Nov. 07 (Thu) / TBA
vs. No. 4 Kent State vs. No. 5 Ball State
HARRISONBURG, Va. – In a nail-biting finish, James Madison fell short against App State, ending the contest with a final score of 4-3 at the JMU Field Hockey Complex on Sunday afternoon. Trailing 4-2 with less than four minutes remaining, Carissa Tambroni found the back of the net, narrowing the gap to one goal. Unfortunately, the Dukes could not capitalize on the momentum to find an equalizer.
With this defeat, JMU (13-5, 7-1 MAC) shares the Mid-American Conference regular season title with both the Mountaineers (11-7, 7-1 MAC) and Miami (Ohio) (10-7, 7-1 MAC). Nonetheless, the Dukes secured the coveted No. 1 seed in the upcoming tournament, triumphantly outscoring their MAC opponents 28-8 during the regular season, which ultimately decided their tournament placement through goal differential.
Tambroni was a standout for JMU, netting two goals, with each assist credited to graduate student Sarah Beers. Junior Alice Roeper added to the scoreboard with her 14th goal of the season, while redshirt sophomore Maddie Tierney celebrated her first career assist in this competitive matchup.
Senior Katie Fricke was pivotal in goal, making three crucial saves throughout the match, showcasing her defensive skills. For App State, Kassie Paul scored twice, while Florine Koopman and Lise Boekaar contributed one goal each. The Mountaineers’ offensive push was supported by assists from Koopman, Grace Ball, and Noa Ginjaume Matas, while goalkeeper Claire Grenis managed one save to help secure the win.
Quoting Head Coach Christy Morgan
“It was a disappointing loss. That was not our best hockey, but was the best App State has played all season. We will use this bad loss as fuel to be better!”
How It Happened
- Boekaar opened the scoring for the Mountaineers, batting home a bouncing ball during a penalty corner situation at the 6:02 mark of the first quarter, putting App State ahead 1-0.
- Koopman further extended the lead, connecting with Paul across the goal line during a scramble in front of the net early in the second quarter, making it 2-0 for App State.
- JMU responded fiercely with under five minutes to go in the third quarter when Tierney sent an inlet pass from outside the circle to the far right post, allowing Roeper to score and narrow the deficit to 2-1.
- Three minutes later, Tambroni scored on a corner, assisted by Beers, leveling the match at 2-2, momentarily shifting the momentum to JMU.
- However, the Mountaineers regained their lead shortly after, with Matas feeding Paul for a critical one-on-one situation, in which Paul executed a reverse shot to make it 3-2.
- App State wasted no time in the final quarter, scoring just 25 seconds in, thanks to a goal from Koopman with an assist from Ball on a penalty corner.
- Tambroni struck again, bringing JMU to 4-3 with just over three minutes remaining, utilizing another penalty corner play, imbued with an assist from Beers, yet ultimately falling short of the equalizer.
Game Notes
- James Madison has historically dominated the all-time series against App State, leading 20-4-1 since 1974.
- App State recorded an impressive advantage in shots (17-7) and penalty corners (10-2), emphasizing their offensive strategy during the match.
- The 4 goals scored by App State are tied for the most JMU has conceded this season, matching the outcome from a contest against Monmouth on September 8.
- JMU will participate in their first conference tournament match since their loss to No. 2 seed Delaware in the 2021 CAA title game. They were also the No. 1 seed that season with a perfect 6-0 record in league play.
- Tambroni’s two goals in this match mark her impressive tally of seven goals over the last seven games, solidifying her presence as a crucial player for the Dukes.
- Tierney’s assist not only marked a pivotal contribution to the game but also the first point of her collegiate career.
- Roeper has shown consistent performance this season, managing to score or assist in all but three games in which she has played.
Up Next
With the No. 1 seed secured, the Dukes are poised to compete against the winner of the matchup between No. 4 seed Kent State and No. 5 seed Ball State. This quarterfinal contest is set for Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 11:30 a.m. Following that, JMU’s semifinal game against the winner from the earlier contest is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7 at 11:30 a.m. These important fixtures will take place on the campus of Miami (Ohio) and will be streamed live via Chatterbox Sports. The championship showdown is anticipated for Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m., with the victor earning an automatic berth into the prestigious NCAA Field Hockey Championships.
For further details about the MAC Field Hockey Championship, click here.
**Interview with Carissa Tambroni: JMU Field Hockey Forward**
**Interviewer**: Thanks for joining us today, Carissa. After a tough match against App State, how are you and the team feeling right now?
**Carissa Tambroni**: Thank you for having me! It’s definitely a mixed bag of emotions. We fought hard and managed to score some goals, but it’s disappointing to have come so close and still end up on the losing side. We were confident we could tie it up but just couldn’t capitalize on the chances we had in the final moments.
**Interviewer**: You scored twice in that match, which kept the game exciting until the end. What was going through your mind as you approached that second goal?
**Carissa Tambroni**: I was just focused on creating opportunities for the team. When the corner was called, I knew we needed to make something happen. It was really an instinctive play, and thankfully Sarah [Beers] set it up perfectly for me. I was just hoping it would spark a comeback.
**Interviewer**: It seems like you had a strong season finishing with the regular season conference title. How do you feel the team can use this loss as fuel for the upcoming tournament?
**Carissa Tambroni**: Absolutely. Coach Morgan is right; we didn’t perform our best, and that’s a wake-up call for us. We have to regroup, learn from this game, and make sure we get back to playing JMU field hockey—aggressive and organized. We’ve shown what we can do all season, so we’ll use this loss as motivation to come back stronger.
**Interviewer**: Your next match is against tough competition, with both Kent State and Ball State on the horizon. What are your thoughts heading into these games?
**Carissa Tambroni**: We have to focus on ourselves and come together as a unit. We know both teams are strong, but we have proven we can compete with the best in our conference. It’s going to be crucial for us to stay mentally sharp and really work on our execution—especially in those high-pressure moments.
**Interviewer**: as a senior, what legacy do you hope to leave with the JMU Field Hockey program?
**Carissa Tambroni**: I want to leave behind a culture of resilience and determination. No matter the setback, I hope my teammates remember to fight for each other and never give up. We’ve had a great season so far, and I want to help push our team to achieve even more in the tournament and beyond.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for sharing your insights, Carissa. Good luck in the upcoming matches!
**Carissa Tambroni**: Thank you! I appreciate it. We’re excited to show what we can do!
