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Nobody knows exactly where Rachel Matey might end up for James Madison this year.

The redshirt sophomore has been able to thrive on both ends of the field in her first two seasons. She scored 14 goals as a midfielder in her first season, then last year moved back to defense and had 10 caused turnovers and 11 ground balls on top of 27 draw controls, one shy of the team lead, in six games.

“Last year she was moved to have her specialize and become excellent,” JMU coach Shelley Klaes said. “She did that really well. It shows us what she’s capable of. Now as we continue to push her and develop her, if we give her more reign on the field, can she still maintain the presence in the games that she did last year?”

Last year’s role was more of what Matey was accustomed to. Moving to defense helped her high school (Archbishop Carroll in Philadelphia) win the state championship in her junior year and she remained on defense through her senior year before taking on a different role to start her college career.

“I came in really defensive-minded,” Matey said. “Haley Warden, our assistant who was a volunteer coach back then, I worked a lot with her. In between classes, I’d be on the field shooting. In high school, I didn’t really do a lot of that stuff.”

The quandary for the Dukes is figuring out where Matey helps them most. Klaes points to Matey’s contagious energy and competitiveness as qualities that will help either end.

“We don’t want to limit her,” Klaes said. “She’s incredibly poised, composed. She can compete at the highest level with intensity but still maintain that composure you need as a leader to execute the skill and be able to lead the people around you.”

JMU’s offense end could benefit from Matey’s experience. The defensive end already has two key cogs with goalie Molly Dougherty and defender Emma Thompson back. Both played on the Dukes’ 2018 NCAA championship squad.

“They feed off a winning mentality that is just different. That’s where I got a lot of my strength,” Matey said. “I know a lot of other girls on the team look up to those two. Defense is going to be powerful this year.”

The Dukes sees this year as a chance to make up for lost potential. After falling to North Carolina in their 2020 season opener, JMU reeled off five straight wins, including topping Big Ten teams Penn State and Rutgers.

“We felt like we were coming along really well,” Klaes said. “Now with this lull and pause, we feel like we’re even more sound all over the field which is exciting.”

A highly touted freshman class will shore up any holes, and JMU has its midfield healthy again. Figuring out where Matey can have the biggest impact is one of the final pieces to the puzzle.

“Wherever I’m most productive, I think they’re going to utilize me there,” Matey said. “Different opponents are going to capitalize on different things, so anything could happen. I could be playing 100-percent offense one game and 100-percent defense another game.”

TOP RETURNERS

Molly Dougherty, G, R-Jr.

JMU believes Dougherty has meant more to her program than any goalie in the country. After backstopping the Dukes’ NCAA championship in 2018, the Tewaaraton Award nominee has raised her save percentage to above 50 percent and dropped her GAA below 8.60.

Emma Johnson, D, R-Sr.

Johnson is the one Dukes player to take advantage of the NCAA’s eligibility relief, and the one that JMU would have picked if given only one selection. She makes the defense click, and sits in the program’s career top 10 in caused turnovers (96) and ground balls (136).

Isabella Peterson, A, R-Fr.

Peterson was off to a promising start, leading the team with 15 goals in six games when the 2020 season ended. The Dukes foresee big things from the tall attacker in her encore.

KEY ADDITION

Katelyn Morgan, A, Fr.

The lefty crease player out of Georgia is a highly skilled feeder, which will bring an added dimension to an offense known for its potent dodgers.

ENEMY LINES

“Champion mentality and hard-nosed team that knows how to win and doesn't back down from a fight. Their defense is traditionally aggressive and knows how to throw opponents of their game. They attack hard and often and try to expose your weaknesses as much as possible. Their relentless grit and determination to win makes them a very formidable opponent.”

NUMBERS GAME

8.33

Goals allowed per game last year, JMU’s best since 2010 when it allowed 7.20 goals per game. The Dukes scoring defense has ranked in the top 10 four straight seasons.