US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20 on Dec. 17. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com through the end of the month and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition in February.

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No. 14 James Madison

2019 Record: 16-4, (6-0, Colonial Athletic Association)
Coach: Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe (14th year)
Assistants: Kateri Linville, Haley Warden, Matt Snyder

All-Time Record: 331-184
NCAA Appearances: 16
Final Fours: 1
Championships: 1

2020 Schedule

Save the Date
Feb. 12

Klaes-Bawcombe values each day and game as if it were the most important date on the calendar. But JMU’s home contest against Virginia Tech on Feb. 12 means a little something extra as a local rival that forces teams to be mentally tough. “They have a tendency to play a zone,” she said. “It forces you to be really polished with your stick work and your decision-making really early in the season.”

Dougherty Could Carry on Taylor's Legacy

Megan Taylor’s ascension to history last spring reinvigorated the goalie position. Count Molly Dougherty among those hoping to continue her legacy.

Taylor became the first goalkeeper (male or female) to win the Tewaaraton Award after a season in which she utterly dominated between the pipes. With her graduating, there’s room for another goalie to command national conversation. Maybe that will be Dougherty, a redshirt-junior who posted a ridiculous 53.5 save percentage last season.

“Where you’re seeing her game grow is that she’s not just a ball-stopper anymore,” Klaes-Bawcombe said. “She’s coming out of the cage, making athletic plays, picking up loose balls, grabbing interceptions. When you have a goalie who is able to play as an eighth defender but also has these natural leadership qualities … I just think it’s a really exciting time for Molly.”

Because James Madison graduated three standout defenders in Lauren DuVall, Natalie Fuccillo and Caroline Sdanowich, Dougherty’s presence becomes even more important. Senior Emma Johnson returns, but JMU projects to start two sophomores (Mairead Durkin and Rachel Matey) and senior Kristen Russell, who played in 11 games last season.

With a challenging non-conference schedule featuring North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Penn State and Cornell — not to mention an emerging CAA foe in Hofstra — the Dukes need Dougherty to stand on her head more often than not.

“She’s going to need to be there for us,” Klaes-Bawcombe said. “Things like 8-meter presence, 1-v-goalie shots, those are going to be positions that Molly has to be willing to bail the team out here or there.”

With two more years of eligibility, Dougherty plays with “patience but hunger,” a quality that Klaes-Bawcombe admires. Dougherty’s on the more serious side as far as personalities go, but part of being named a team captain means accepting other personalities and making sure they blend.

“She has a much better understanding of what she can do for our team now,” Klaes-Bawcombe said. “She came back really driven. I think that she’s earned this team’s respect.”

Oft-forgotten in the agile, speed-driven style of today’s game, goalkeepers are the difference between good and great teams. Just ask Taylor, who was the star of NCAA championship weekend. Could Dougherty be the next big thing?

“The game is moving to a fast-paced, athletic game, and I think that more goalies can show that their skillsets and qualities are extra special,” Klaes-Bawcombe said. “It’s incredibly inspirational for the players that come behind Megan. It’s an exciting time to be a goalie in our sport.”

Projected Starters

D – Emma Johnson – Sr. – 53 GB, 28 CT
D – Mairead Durkin – So. – 4 G, 12 DC
D – Rachel Matey – So. – 14 G, 14 GB
D – Kristen Russell – Sr. – 7 GB, 5 CT
M – Halle Duenkel – Sr. – 22 G, 15 GB
M – Kelsey Reed – Sr. – 28 GB, 31 DC
M – Lizzy Fox – Soph. – 16 G, 17 CT
M – Charlotte Haggerty – Jr. – 20 G, 20 GB
A – Maddie McDaniel – Sr. – 41 G, 47.1 SH%
A – Logan Brennan – Sr. – 38 G, 15 A
A – Katie Checkosky – Jr. – 21 A, 55.6 SH%
GK – Molly Dougherty – R-Jr. – 175 SV, 53.5 SV%

Tewaaraton Watch
Maddie McDaniel, A, Sr.

She notched 41 goals and a team-high 127 draw controls, cementing herself as the team’s likely leader this season with the graduation of Hanna Haven. She’s as clutch as they come, scoring five game-winning goals last season and tallying four goals in each of the Dukes’ last three games.

X Factor
Molly Dougherty, GK, R-Jr.

She’ll likely be in the discussion as one of the nation’s top goalkeepers after a standout season in which she recorded a .535 save percentage and a goals against average of 8.49. The defense in front of her will feature three new starters, making Dougherty’s contributions all the more important.

National Rankings

2x2

The Dukes welcomed two pairs of twin sisters to the team during the signing period. Minnesota sisters Geneva and Olivia Mattis were both first team all-state. Olivia was the state player of the year in 2019, and Geneva was ranked first in the state in assists and points. The Dukes also welcome Alex and Lizzy Pirisino of Maryland, two four-year varsity starters for St. Paul’s School for Girls.

Enemy Lines

“JMU, I always think of them as just scrappy and hardworking. I think they are just a really tough team to play, and I see that next season as well.”