UConn Women's Lacrosse Faces #21 James Madison

Huskies look to build on first win of the season against tough conference opponent

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The UConn women's lacrosse team will take on #21 James Madison this Saturday at the US Lacrosse Facility in Sparks, Maryland. The Huskies are coming off their first win of the season, a 10-6 victory over Fairfield, while the Dukes are looking to rebound from a season-opening loss to top-ranked North Carolina.

Why it matters

This matchup between UConn and James Madison is an important early-season conference game, as the Dukes were picked to win the American Conference again in 2026 after winning the title last year. A win over the ranked opponent would be a big boost for the Huskies as they look to build momentum in the new season.

The details

In the win over Fairfield, Rayea Davis led the UConn attack with four goals, while Hadley Bethke scored two crucial fourth-quarter goals to give the Huskies the lead. Meg O'Brien tallied five points in the victory and leads the team with 10 points on the season. James Madison is led by Payton Root, who scored four goals in the team's last game, and Olivia Matthews and Reese Cuviello, who were named the American Conference's top offensive and defensive players, respectively, last season.

  • The game will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at 12:00 pm.
  • UConn defeated Fairfield 10-6 on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Rayea Davis

A key member of the UConn women's lacrosse team, scoring a team-high four goals in the Huskies' recent win over Fairfield.

Hadley Bethke

Scored two crucial fourth-quarter goals to give UConn the lead in their victory over Fairfield.

Meg O'Brien

Leads the UConn women's lacrosse team with 10 points on the season and tallied five points in the win over Fairfield.

Payton Root

A standout player for James Madison, scoring four goals in the Dukes' most recent game.

Olivia Matthews

Reigning American Conference Offensive Player of the Year for James Madison.

Reese Cuviello

Reigning American Conference Defensive Player of the Year for James Madison.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This matchup between UConn and James Madison is an important early-season conference game that will provide valuable insight into the Huskies' progress and the strength of the American Conference this season.