HARRISONBURG, VA -- University of Delaware freshman Nicole Flego and senior Katie Muth (at right) combined for nine goals but the Blue Hens fell to No. 6 James Madison, 19-16, in a Colonial Athletic Association battle between two Top 20 teams Sunday at JMU Lacrosse Field.
The 20th ranked Blue Hens (6-4, 2-1 CAA) had their five-game winning streak snapped despite getting a game-high seven points on five goals and two assists from Flego (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks East) and four goals and one assist from Muth (Ellicott City, MD/Seton Keough).
Flego's seven points were the most points scored by a freshman since Meghan Mulqueen had eight points against Hofstra on March 25, 1989.
James Madison, ranked No. 6 in the latest IWLCA Top 20 Poll, never trailed and improved to 9-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Juniors Annie Wagner and Emily Haller each scored four goals to lead the Dukes.
James Madison started the game off by scoring the first three goals before sophomore Debbie Sloan got the Blue Hens on the board at the 22 minute mark. After a Julie Stone goal at 21:40 Flego tallied back-to-back goals to cut the JMU lead to 4-3. The Dukes would respond with a 6-1 run to expand their lead to 10-4. Delaware would score two of the next three goals including a Flego goal with five seconds left in the half to go into the break down 11-6.
After Muth and Aburn scored out of the intermission, the Dukes scored the next five goals to balloon their lead to eight at 16-8, their largest lead. From that point on Delaware outscored the Dukes 8-3 in the final 22 minutes to pull within three but could get no closer.
Delaware goalkeeper Jessica Cerveny posted five saves, while Kelly Wetzler stopped 12 Delaware shots.
The Blue Hens will return to action on Friday when they host William & Mary at 7 p.m. at Rullo Stadium.
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