HARRISONBURG, Va. — A senior class that already had more wins that any other group in James Madison history, put an exclamation point on its history with a 16-10 victory over Towson in the Colonial Athletic Association championship game at Sentara Park.

The Dukes needed overtime to beat the Tigers, 17-16, just a week ago, but for much of the game on Sunday it looked like a coronation for a class that has now won 57 games and will play in the NCAA tournament all four years — the first JMU senior group to do that since 2001. All 16 goals on Sunday were either scored or assisted by a senior.

"It's just a special group," said JMU head coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe. "They love each other, they love the game. They put the time in to work on their stick skills, to really study the game of lacrosse, and I think it's showing here. Beyond that, they have character, so they're able to manage their emotions to able to show consistency."

JMU never trailed in the game, but Towson was hanging around in the first half, pulling to within 5-4 on a free position shot by Emily Gillingham with 10:52 to play. JMU goalie Molly Dougherty then made three saves in the final 10 minutes of the first half to help kick start things and the Dukes scored the final five goals of the half to take a 10-4 halftime lead.

Towson, which got a big boost from Rachel Mills on the draw control, scored three straight goals to open the second half and twice got within three goals of the Dukes, but precision passing from senior Katie Kerrigan helped JMU put the game away. Kerrigan had three of her game-high six assists during a four-goal second-half run that gave JMU a 15-8 lead.

Senior Kristen Gaudian, the CAA Offensive Player of the Year, led the Dukes with five goals and senior Elena Romesburg provided her usual spark. Romesburg scored JMU's first goal of the game and finished with four goals, five groundballs and three draw controls. Natalie Sulmonte had four goals for Towson.

"We felt really comfortable," Romesburg said. "We were confident and really followed the scout. I think that was one of the best all-around games we've played all year. It's confidence going forward. We're hoping to get the best possible seed that we can."

Both teams will anxiously await Sunday night's NCAA tournament selection show. Towson (15-4) is solidly in the field, but likely missed out on a chance to host a first-round game. JMU (18-1) should earn a high seed and remain at home.

The Dukes won the CAA last year and earned a NCAA bid, but this year's edition took a major step forward after last year's 14-7 season that ended with a loss to Penn State in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

"Last year, the focus was building confidence," said Klaes-Bawcombe. "They really started to believe we had what it took and we were able to get some results that validated that feeling. When we started off this season with UNC the way that we did (a 15-14 overtime victory), it was just the fuel that we needed to ignite what we have here."

Perhaps more than anyone, Klaes-Bawcombe appreciates what the Dukes have accomplished. A two-time All-American player at JMU, she returned to her alma mater in 2007 as head coach. The Dukes have won five CAA championships under her guidance, but this year's team could be on the verge of something even bigger.

"When I came here as a player, I came here to make a difference, and I did that — got JMU to its first-ever NCAA tournament," Klaes-Bawcombe said. "To be able to come back as a coach and help us establish ourselves as a national powerhouse as a mid-major in the sport of lacrosse is a credit to what JMU does. They make us feel special and they make us want to give back to the university."

The seniors were thrilled to win the CAA title, but the bar has been set higher for this class.

"All of our hard work pays off so much," Kerrigan said. "From fall ball and preseason and going through CAA's completely, it's one goal that we had. So we can check that off and now we've got to move on to the others."