James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Sam Lofton's Versatility Driving JMU's Success
9/10/2014 5:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Senior's move from defense to attack has paid early dividends in her final season in the purple and gold
Senior Sam Lofton is in a unique situation for a collegiate soccer player. After starting 20 games at left back for the 2013 CAA regular season championship team, the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania native is now a regular starter as a forward in 2014. Lofton's versatility has helped the Dukes develop a more dynamic style of play and break into the national rankings.
It did not take long for the change to pay off. In the season opener against Xavier, Lofton had two assists in a 2-1 win.
"It's been going well so far, I think," Lofton said after practice in early September. "I had some success my first game finding a couple assists, which I think right now I'm more comfortable with than being a goal scorer. That will hopefully come a little later."
The goals have started to come for Lofton, as she scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over VCU on Sunday night. The goal came after sophomore midfielder Allie Bunner's header found Lofton open on the edge of the box with enough time to take a touch, then rip a powerful shot past the near post.
After winning the 2013 regular season conference title, JMU fell to Northeastern in the CAA tournament final and did not receive an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. In the offseason, the coaching staff decided to make a change to bolster the attack.
"It's one of the things we started experimenting with last spring," Head Coach Dave Lombardo said. "Sam is a very technical player, very offensive minded. She had been our outside back for three years but we decided that we needed a little more oomph in the attacking third of the field."
Combined with sophomore forward Ashley Herndon and senior forward Katie Hyland, the Dukes have a lethal strike force. The chemistry between the three has been apparent through the first five games of the season. The speed that all three players possess allows them to get to open spaces, forcing defenses to scramble to cover everyone. This leads to a high volume of shots on goal, which results in goals.
"I was really excited when I heard the news that Sam was going to move forward," Herndon said. "It's just amazing how she can put [the ball] exactly where you want it to be. She's my best friend off the field and, on the field, I'm always looking to play her. As well as other people, but I try to find her first."
With Lofton moving up top and 2013 CAA Defensive Player of the Year Becky Sparks graduating, the Dukes needed to reload on defense. Through five games, the back line has allowed just four goals en route to four wins.
"We have a sophomore now, Jennie Sroba, who is also a left-footed, left-sided player," Lombardo said. "We said to her 'hey, if you can hold your own at left back, then that gives us the flexibility to move Sam up.' And so far, so good."
This summer, Lofton and Herndon spent time playing with the Washington Spirit Reserves in the Pro-Am W-League. The experience has helped them boost confidence and polish their play.
"I think it was a tremendous experience," Lombardo said of the Spirit Reserves. "I think it was a confidence boost. She's been fighting injuries over the last two years or so. I think that helped her realize that she can push through some of this stuff. I think it was a confidence builder."
The challenge of facing high-level players this summer helped Lofton improve her own game.
"It helped a lot," Lofton said. "I played with really good other players so it allowed me to work on things that I wasn't as good at. I was confident going forward because I knew people would be there behind me. So I was able to work on my attacking side of my defense and I had a few goals with them."
Playing together in the offseason also helped Lofton and Herndon become closer. "Spending time together all summer we kind of bonded and got to know each other more," Herndon said.
Lofton has been having a great start to the season leading the attack but has seen some playing time in other positions as well. When the Dukes need a goal, Lombardo will often substitute an attacking player for a defender and pull Lofton back to defense. This allows JMU to play three defenders at the back, instead of the traditional four, with Lofton in the center.
"Against Wake Forest, we inserted her as our left center back and she had practiced it for two days and she was sensational," Lombardo said. "Her versatility is that she's a smart soccer player and she's very technical. So she can problem solve on the field as well."
Lofton's fluidity and role in a dynamic offense has helped her team to a 4-1 start and a national ranking. JMU defeated No. 24 Wake Forest on August 29, which helped boost the Dukes to take over that No. 24 rank in the NSCAA poll while also achieving a No. 25 ranking in the Soccer America poll the following week.
"It's really awesome," Lofton said of the ranking. "It's my first time being in that rank in my five years here. It's a really great feeling to put it back because back when I was in high school looking to come here, JMU was ranked 18th in the country. So it's really great to put JMU back on the map where they deserve to be."
JMU travels to Philadelphia this weekend to play Villanova on Friday at 4 p.m. and La Salle on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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It did not take long for the change to pay off. In the season opener against Xavier, Lofton had two assists in a 2-1 win.
"It's been going well so far, I think," Lofton said after practice in early September. "I had some success my first game finding a couple assists, which I think right now I'm more comfortable with than being a goal scorer. That will hopefully come a little later."
The goals have started to come for Lofton, as she scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over VCU on Sunday night. The goal came after sophomore midfielder Allie Bunner's header found Lofton open on the edge of the box with enough time to take a touch, then rip a powerful shot past the near post.
After winning the 2013 regular season conference title, JMU fell to Northeastern in the CAA tournament final and did not receive an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. In the offseason, the coaching staff decided to make a change to bolster the attack.
"It's one of the things we started experimenting with last spring," Head Coach Dave Lombardo said. "Sam is a very technical player, very offensive minded. She had been our outside back for three years but we decided that we needed a little more oomph in the attacking third of the field."
Combined with sophomore forward Ashley Herndon and senior forward Katie Hyland, the Dukes have a lethal strike force. The chemistry between the three has been apparent through the first five games of the season. The speed that all three players possess allows them to get to open spaces, forcing defenses to scramble to cover everyone. This leads to a high volume of shots on goal, which results in goals.
"I was really excited when I heard the news that Sam was going to move forward," Herndon said. "It's just amazing how she can put [the ball] exactly where you want it to be. She's my best friend off the field and, on the field, I'm always looking to play her. As well as other people, but I try to find her first."
With Lofton moving up top and 2013 CAA Defensive Player of the Year Becky Sparks graduating, the Dukes needed to reload on defense. Through five games, the back line has allowed just four goals en route to four wins.
"We have a sophomore now, Jennie Sroba, who is also a left-footed, left-sided player," Lombardo said. "We said to her 'hey, if you can hold your own at left back, then that gives us the flexibility to move Sam up.' And so far, so good."
This summer, Lofton and Herndon spent time playing with the Washington Spirit Reserves in the Pro-Am W-League. The experience has helped them boost confidence and polish their play.
"I think it was a tremendous experience," Lombardo said of the Spirit Reserves. "I think it was a confidence boost. She's been fighting injuries over the last two years or so. I think that helped her realize that she can push through some of this stuff. I think it was a confidence builder."
The challenge of facing high-level players this summer helped Lofton improve her own game.
"It helped a lot," Lofton said. "I played with really good other players so it allowed me to work on things that I wasn't as good at. I was confident going forward because I knew people would be there behind me. So I was able to work on my attacking side of my defense and I had a few goals with them."
Playing together in the offseason also helped Lofton and Herndon become closer. "Spending time together all summer we kind of bonded and got to know each other more," Herndon said.
Lofton has been having a great start to the season leading the attack but has seen some playing time in other positions as well. When the Dukes need a goal, Lombardo will often substitute an attacking player for a defender and pull Lofton back to defense. This allows JMU to play three defenders at the back, instead of the traditional four, with Lofton in the center.
"Against Wake Forest, we inserted her as our left center back and she had practiced it for two days and she was sensational," Lombardo said. "Her versatility is that she's a smart soccer player and she's very technical. So she can problem solve on the field as well."
Lofton's fluidity and role in a dynamic offense has helped her team to a 4-1 start and a national ranking. JMU defeated No. 24 Wake Forest on August 29, which helped boost the Dukes to take over that No. 24 rank in the NSCAA poll while also achieving a No. 25 ranking in the Soccer America poll the following week.
"It's really awesome," Lofton said of the ranking. "It's my first time being in that rank in my five years here. It's a really great feeling to put it back because back when I was in high school looking to come here, JMU was ranked 18th in the country. So it's really great to put JMU back on the map where they deserve to be."
JMU travels to Philadelphia this weekend to play Villanova on Friday at 4 p.m. and La Salle on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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