Harrisonburg, VA - The #16 Hofstra Women's Lacrosse team will take on #7 James Madison on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the JMU Lacrosse Complex in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship game.  The winner of the contest will earn the CAA's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

Hofstra, the third seed in the tournament, advanced to the title game with a 9-8 victory over second-seeded and eight-ranked nationally Towson.  Hofstra never trailed in the contest and led by as much as five goals (8-3) before Towson stormed back.  Freshman midfielder Jill Maier would notched the eventual game-winner with 13:11 to play off a pass from fellow freshman attack Claire Brady to send the Pride to the championship game.

Saturday's appearance in the title game will mark the Pride's fourth appearance in the CAA championship game and the first one since Hofstra defeated James Madison, 15-13, in the 2007 edition. 

JMU advanced to Saturday's game with a 7-4 win over William & Mary on Thursday.  The Dukes are now 15-2 on the season and have won eight straight games since a 8-7 loss to #2 Maryland on March 27.  The Dukes have five players who have tallied over 40 points this season, led by Kim Griffin's 57 points on 37 goals and 20 assists.  Kelly Morgan controls the net for JMU and has a 6.83 goals against average and a .507 saves percentage, while playing nearly every minute this season.  James Madison is coached by former Hofstra Head Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe.

Hofstra avenged its earlier loss to Towson, a 9-7 defeat on April 25, and improved to 12-5 this year with the win over the Tigers last night.  Senior attack Liz Falco led the way as she scored four first half goals to pace the Pride, while senior midfielder Corrine Gandolfi added a goal, three assists, three caused turnovers and two draw controls. 

Hofstra, under the direction of fourth-year skipper Abby Morgan, will be looking for its third NCAA Tournament appearance with a win on Saturday.  Morgan guided Hofstra to the 2007 title and the 2001 won squad won the America East title and advanced to face Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA Championship. 

Gandolfi continues to lead Hofstra this season in every statistical category as the returning All-American has 47 goals, 22 assists, 69 points, 39 ground balls, 60 draw controls and 29 caused turnovers.  She now has 207 career points and moved into third place all-time, passing Kathleen McPike (206 from 1998-2001).  Falco and senior midfielder K'Leigh Vanaman have complemented Gandolfi nicely this season as well.  Falco has 31 goals and 13 assists this season, while Vanaman is strong throughout with 25 goals, 13 assists, 30 ground balls, 40 draw controls and 14 caused turnovers.  Junior Katie Hertsch anchors a solid Pride defense with 34 ground balls, 31 draw controls and 18 caused turnovers.