HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – No. 19 James Madison scored three goals in the game’s first eight minutes to roll past Ball State, 5-0, in Mid-American Conference field hockey action on Friday afternoon at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.
The Dukes (8-4, 3-1 MAC) produced 33 shots compared to the Cardinals’ (3-9, 1-3 MAC) seven and held an overwhelming advantage in penalty corners (16-3).
Madelief Molier found the back of the net three times for the second hat trick of her sophomore campaign. Skyler Brown opened the scoring less than two minutes into the contest, while Lila Harlock capped the day with the second goal of her career.
The Dukes played all three goalkeepers for the second time this season, with Molly Schreiner earning the win and making two saves in 30:00. Hannah Popolis came in to start the second half, and Lilly Sweeney finished in cage for the fourth quarter. Popolis and Sweeney both rejected a shot in the win.
Ball State’s Carleigh Hofelich tallied a career-high 11 saves in the full 60 minutes of action. Christine Ditizio led the BSU attack with two shots on goal.
Quoting Head Coach Christy Morgan
“I thought early on we played a really connected style of hockey. We didn’t finish a high percentage of our shots, so we’ll have to adjust for the next game. There was some good hockey on display today, but we definitely have some areas to improve for our next game. I’m super happy that Lila Harlock scored, Madelief Molier had great goals and Skyler Brown’s goal was phenomenal. We finished some but left a lot out there.”
How It Happened
• On an uneven break, Brown sent a rocket from the top left of the circle to the upper netting to give the Dukes a 1-0 lead 1:32 into the contest.
• Molier managed to send in a loose ball just over a minute later before scoring another unassisted goal halfway through the opening frame.
• After a nearly 44-minute scoring drought, Molier found the back of the net once more to make it 4-0 JMU with under nine minutes remaining.
• Harlock tapped in a bouncing ball in the circle with 3:55 to go to help secure the 5-0 win.
Game Notes
• Molier is the first Duke since Miranda Rigg to register multiple hat tricks in a single season, with Rigg producing three such games in 2016.
• Today’s result marked JMU’s second shutout of the 2025 season, with the other being a 5-0 contest versus Longwood on Sept. 26.
• James Madison’s 33 shots are the most by the program since 2023 when it totaled 53 in a 13-0 win against Queens (N.C.) on Nov. 4.
• Meanwhile, the last time the Dukes recorded 16 or more penalty corners was in 2021 when JMU earned 17 in a 3-0 victory versus Saint Francis on Aug. 29, 2021.
Up Next
The Dukes will remain in the Friendly City to host No. 9 Duke on Sunday. Game time against the Blue Devils is slated for 1 p.
— JMU Athletics —
