HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – Top-seeded Miami (Ohio) scored consecutive goals in the second half and held off fourth-seeded James Madison, 2-1, in the semifinal round of the Mid-American Conference Field Hockey Championship on Thursday afternoon at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.
The RedHawks (14-4), who rank 13th nationally, have now won seven straight to advance to Saturday’s conference title game, where they will face the winner of No. 2 UMass and No. 3 App State. With the loss, the Dukes ended their season with a 12-8 overall record.
After a scoreless first half, Miami broke through with back-to-back goals in the third quarter by Justina Intzes and Malena Sabez, separated by just 1:44. Madelief Molier, the lone goal scorer for JMU, trimmed the deficit to 2-1 less than three minutes later, but the RedHawks were able to keep JMU off the scoreboard in the final frame to earn the road win.
JMU held an early 4-0 lead in shots, but Miami controlled the final three periods, outshooting the hosts by a 16-1 margin to hold a 16-5 advantage for the game. The top seed also held a 13-5 lead in penalty corners, as Miami scored both goals on corner plays.
Despite the setback, Hannah Popolis made a career-high nine saves for JMU while playing 58:06 in cage. Nicky Sjouken stopped two of JMU’s three shots on goal to earn the win for Miami.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• JMU held a 4-0 shots lead in the first, while Miami had a 6-0 ledger in the second, but the game remained scoreless heading into the break.
• Nearly seven minutes into the second half, Intzes cashed in on a penalty corner opportunity, taking the insertion and pass from Kylie Coughlin and Paula Navarro for the game’s opening goal.
• The RedHawks made it 2-0 with 6:19 left in the third on yet another corner, as Sabez ripped it past the keeper.
• Moments later, JMU got on the board, as Azul Covarrubias sent a hard pass from outside the circle, and Molier redirected it past Sjouken for the goal.
• In the fourth, Miami didn’t allow a single JMU shot to hold on for the win.
GAME NOTES
• Miami improved to 3-2 all-time against JMU, having won three straight since last year’s MAC postseason.
• JMU played seven one-goal games during the 2025 campaign, finishing 3-4 in those matchups.
• Thursday was just the third one-goal game for the RedHawks this season, and JMU is one of two MAC teams to play within a goal, as UMass defeated Miami 3-1 during the regular season.
— JMU Athletics —
