JMU Field Hockey Falls to No. 18 Miami (Ohio), 3-1
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison University’s field hockey team suffered a 3-1 setback against No. 18 Miami (Ohio) on Friday afternoon at the JMU Field Hockey Complex in Mid-American Conference action. The loss halts a recent positive trend for the Dukes and impacts their standing in the conference standings.
JMU (8-6,3-2 MAC) encountered important challenges in the fourth quarter,receiving three penalty cards,including two within the final five minutes of play. Miami (Ohio) (8-4, 4-1 MAC) capitalized on the opportunities, scoring an empty-net goal with 2:41 remaining to seal the victory.
Madelief Molier scored JMU’s lone goal, bringing her season total to a team-high 12. Goalkeeper Molly Schreiner recorded four saves, conceding two goals in 56:54 of play.
Miami (Ohio) was led by Justina Intzes, who netted two goals, and Malena Sabez, who opened the scoring on a penalty corner assisted by Berta Mata and Becca Lawn. RedHawks goalkeeper Nicky Sjouken secured the win with seven saves, facing eight JMU corner attempts.
Sabez gave Miami (Ohio) an early lead midway through the first quarter with a penalty corner goal. Molier answered less than a minute into the second quarter, deflecting a pass from ava Drexler-amey to tie the game at 1-1. Intzes regained the lead for the RedHawks at the 9:39 mark of the third quarter,making it 2-1.
In a final attempt to equalize, JMU pulled Schreiner for an extra attacker, Elena Giangaspero, but Intzes scored on the empty net to complete her brace and secure the 3-1 win for Miami (Ohio).
The teams finished with nearly equal statistics, recording 13 shots apiece, with 8 shots on goal each, and 8-6 in favor of JMU for corner attempts. Molier has now scored in seven of the last six games. This marks James Madison’s first Friday defeat since a 4-1 loss to No. 4 Louisville on September 22, 2023.
The Dukes will continue their four-game homestand, hosting MAC opponent Massachusetts on Friday, October 17, at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
