Towson women drop CAA title game to James Madison, 8-6

(Hereford) led Towson with two goals and goalie

(Centennial) stopped several shots from point-blank range, finishing with 10 saves. Mary Kate Lomady and Ariel Lane led James Madison with two goals each.

Lomady was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Performer. Towson's

(Loch Raven), Jess Dunn (Fallston) and Kelly Custer were named to the All-Championship Team.

James Madison (15-3) was successful on 15 of16 clear attempts and won the ground ball battle 14-8.

A goal by Lane with five seconds remaining in the first half gave James Madison a 6-3 lead at the break. Towson adjusted by increasing their intensity and doing a better job in transition.

Towson took control and tied the game with three consecutive goals to open the second half. Custer and freshman Kelly Murkey (Westminster) each scored on free position chances and

tied the game with 17:47 left in the game.

"We could definitely feel the energy picking up,"

said. "We were really pumped and ready to go. They just capitalized on the mistakes that we made. We made it hard on ourselves. I think we just got too excited."

(Mercy) and Annie Brophy responded for James Madison with goals 1:08 apart, and the Dukes regained the lead 8-6 with 13:55 left. James Madison then clamped down on defense and didn't allow the Tigers many open looks at the goal. The Dukes also stayed patient on offense to maintain possession.

After

scored the game's first goal on a free position with 22:49 left in the first half, the Tigers never led again. James Madison took the lead with two goals by Lomady and another by Ariel Lane in four minutes and stayed in control most of the way.

"It's been great and it's sad to go," said Dunn, a senior who might have played her last game at Towson. "But I'm going to keep coming back and cheering them on."