Under first-year coach and former JMU player SHelley Klaes-Bawcombe the team had a successful season finishing 13-5, but a loss to Hofstra in the Colonial Athletic Association championship ended its season abruptly.
Klaes-Bawcombe described the loss as "heart wrenching," and it prevented JMU from reaching the NCAA tournament for only the third time since 1997. With last season still fresh on their minds, the Dukes are eager to pick up where they left off.
Coaches around the league are recognizing JMU as a conference contender. In a recent preseason poll eight of the CAA coaches, Madison was predicted to finish first in the conference.
"JMU is typically pre-seeded first in our conference, so it is a pressure that our program is used to feeling," said coach Klaes-Bawcombe.
JMU received six first-place votes, totaling 48 points. Delaware received one first-place vote and was second with 40 points. Defending CAA champion Hofstra was third with 38 and Towson recievied the other first place vote to finish fourth with 28 points. Madison is also ranked 14th in the nation in Lacrosse Magazine's annual preseason college rankings.
"We don't necessarily approach the season differently, but we do recognize that we have a target on our back and teams are looking to beat us," senior defender Natasha Fuchs said.
It's going to take a lot for teams to beat a squad that is returning 10 seniors, a slew of young talent and eight starters from last year, including CAA Player of the Year Annie Wagner. The senior attacker scored 59 goals last season and has been named to the Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List as a candidate for national player of the year.
Joining Wagner is Senior Attacker Natasha Fuchs who had a team-high 31 assists last season and all-CAA goalkeeper Kelly Wetzel who led the conference with 186 saves last year.
"The seniors are ready to lead a team with a chip on their shoulders looking for revenge and a chance to prove that JMU is the best time in the conference," Klaes-Bawcombe said.
The Dukes will look toward their senior leadership as they navigate a challenging conference schedule. Six of the of the Dukes' opponents are listed in the Top 20, including four in the top 10; No.2 Virginia (March 28), No. 4 Maryland (March 8), No.7 Princeton (March 19) and No. 10 Yale (March 1).
Other JMU opponents in the rankings are No. 18 Dartmouth (Feb. 28) and No. 20 Richmond (March 15). The Dukes will play five of the six ranked opponents on the road, with the only home contest against Richmond.
Madison concluded the preseason schedule by beating the English national team in an exhibition game 11-6 on Feb. 13. Madison begins the regular season at Dartmouth on Saturday, and the home opener will take place against Longwood on March 5.
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