BERLIN- Former Stephen Decatur girls’ varsity lacrosse standout Nikki Carpenter was an important part of the James Madison University Club Lacrosse team that captured the U.S. Lacrosse Women’s Collegiate Associates Division II National Championship.

Carpenter, a former Stephen Decatur Seahawk, now plays on the James Madison Club team that last week won the U.S. Lacrosse Division II championship. All club teams from Division I schools across the country are broken down into two divisions and James Madison was ranked number one in the second division to earn a spot in the National Tournament in Colorado Springs.

The Dukes beat Santa Barbara in the first round, then knocked off Loyola in the semifinals to earn a spot in the national championship game against Utah. Against the Utes, James Madison got out to a 9-5 lead at the half and cruised to the 19-11 win in the championship game. JMU was playing in its first-ever national tournament and became the second straight team from the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Lacrosse League to win the national championship. The University of North Carolina accomplished the feat last year.