BLACKSBURG, Va. - In a game that was decided in the final two minutes, the Virginia Tech lacrosse team came up just short against the James Madison Dukes, 9-8, at Thompson Field Wednesday evening. Senior Libby Rosebro put up big numbers for the Hokies, who battled to avenge the close loss from a year ago. Rosbebro finished the game with a career-high five points, by way of two goals and three assists. For the Dukes, it was redshirt senior Casey Ancarrow that led the charge with five goals.

This was Tech’s first home game of the season as it dropped to 2-3 on the year. James Madison moved to 2-0 so far this season.

Just past the midway point in the second half, Rosebro took the ball coast-to-coast after sophomore defender Ann Wallace Tazewell picked up a redirected shot. Rosebro booked it down the field and dumped the ball off to senior Brooke Martin, who positioned herself in front of the goal on the left side and quickly fired the up-close relay into the right side of the goal to lock the game at 8-8 with 12:13 left in the game.

The game would remain tied for much of the closing minutes, until JMU’s Steph Finley took advantage of a late Tech turnover and was able to work her way across the 8-meter and fire in a good shot from the right side to give the Dukes the late, 9-8, edge.

The Hokies called a timeout following the goal and won the ensuing draw when Rosebro picked up the loose ball. Unable to get a shot off, Tech turned the ball over, but quickly got it back when senior defender Kristin Semones intercepted a pass. She quickly found Meg Bartley towards the middle of the field, but Bartley’s last-second attempt was saved as the final seconds ticked away.

The Hokies showed great resilience in the game after going down 0-3 in the first five minutes of play. They worked their way back to tie the game at 6-6 by the half. It was Jessi Thon that sparked the Tech offense seven minutes into the game as she curled towards the cage and slipped in a pass from Rosebro to put her team on the board.

Back-to-back goals from Rosebro inside the ten-minute mark in the first half and a goal with just over two minutes to play from Bartley helped Tech even things out by the break. The Hokies outshot James Madison 14-10 in the first, and committed just two turnovers.

The second half saw a much slower pace for both teams on the offensive end. The Hokies kept the shots advantage for the game, 22-17, and stepped things up on the draw, winning five of the six second-half draws. They kept the advantage for the game at 11-8.

Senior Alex Gale suffered the loss for the Hokies. She finished the game with three saves. Schylar Healy manned the goal for the Dukes and made nine saves in the game

Tech remains at home as it hosts Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday, March 2 at 1 p.m. at Thompson Field.

For updates on Virginia Tech lacrosse, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Lax).