CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — On a map, only less than an hour’s drive over the Blue Ridge Mountains separates James Madison from the University of Virginia. On the lacrosse field, there’s traditionally been more distance between the two.

But on Wednesday night, No. 4 James Madison made it clear it had erased the difference between the programs, hammering the No. 17 Cavaliers 15-10 at Klöckner Stadium in a game it controlled from the start. The Dukes, now 14-1 with only a loss at Maryland against them, fully looked the part of a team that could be alive Memorial Day weekend.

“We are looking to be the best team in Virginia,” JMU coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe said. “No question about it, and you have to get through UVA to do that.”

The Cavaliers, with three national titles in their history, had owned the commonwealth. Now 9-7, they may have work to do to keep their 22-year NCAA Tournament streak alive after seeing its six-game streak against their in-state rival die.

Fittingly, a pair of in-state products had big games for the Dukes, who return to CAA play Sunday at home against Hofstra. Senior attacker Kristen Gaudian scored a game-high five goals, while redshirt freshman Molly Dougherty stopped 12 shots, several at close range.

“It means so much to this team to get a win at UVA,” Dougherty said. “Two years ago, they came here and lost in overtime. Last year, we played a really close game. We knew we had to come out today firing on all cylinders and that's what we did.”

James Madison scored the game's first four goals and led 9-3 early in the second half. But as Virginia often does, the Cavs figured out a way to score in bunches.

Virginia put together a pair of three-goal rallies in the second half to keep things close, but the Dukes always had an answer, often from the stick of Gaudian or Hanna Haven, the latter who scored four goals.

“We know lacrosse is a game of runs,” Gaudian said. “They'd go on a run, so we'd go on a run. We were just mentally tough. We didn't really complain. We just didn't want to let anything get in our way.”

Virginia, which got three goals from midfielder Kasey Behr, closes out its regular season Saturday with a visit to another in-state rival, Virginia Tech.

The Hokies and Cavaliers are tied for third in the ACC and Virginia could use a victory heading into the conference tournament.

The Dukes have less to worry about, yet plenty on their minds.

“We think we can win the CAA,” Klaes-Bawcombe said, “then be right there to win a national championship.”