JMU Wins 2015 CAA Championship with 3-2 Win Over William & Mary

Sunday, November 8

Hempstead, N.Y.

2:30 p.m.

James Madison University

14-6-2

William & Mary

14-4-2

James Madison

William & Mary

JMU Wins 2015 CAA Championship with 3-2 Win Over William & Mary

11/8/2015 5:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Down by two goals at halftime, fourth-seeded James Madison women's soccer scored three second-half goals to earn a 3-2 victory over second-seeded William & Mary and win the 2015 Colonial Athletic Association Championship at Hofstra Soccer Stadium Sunday afternoon.

With the game knotted at two, junior forward Sydney Braun-McLeod made a run down the right side of the field and placed a beautiful cross into the box where junior midfielder Allie Bunner finished in the 85th minute for the game-winning goal.

The Tribe (14-4-2) controlled play in the first half and entered the break with a 2-0 lead on goals by Mackenzie Kober in the 16th minute and Rachel Moore in the 39th minute. Overall, William & Mary led in shots, 17-8, but redshirt senior goalkeeper Ellen Forrest came up big once again with five saves on the day.

The Dukes (14-6-2) struck quickly in the second stanza to cut the Tribe's lead in half. Combination passing was key on the goal as senior midfielder Kelly Kerrigan found junior defender Jennie Sroba who sent a curling cross into the 18-yard box for junior forward Ashley Herndon to slot home in the 47th minute.

Herndon, the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, scored her second goal of the day and fourth of the tournament in the 75th minute on a cross from Bunner.

JMU will return to action next weekend thanks to an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. A selection show will take place on Monday, Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m. where the Dukes' next destination and opponent will be announced.

FULL HIGHLIGHTS

POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

"At halftime I challenged them." #JMUDukes HC David Lombardo spoke with ASN after the BIG W today. https://t.co/dtTSYDc9vK
— CAASports (@CAASports) November 9, 2015

Ashley Herndon of @JMUWSoccer broke down her emotions and the win after the Dukes claimed the #CAAChamps title. https://t.co/fOGAEYGdS5
— CAASports (@CAASports) November 9, 2015

PLAY OF THE GAME

WSOC: Tremendous goal by @JMUWSoccer Allie Bunner. Tremendous #CAAChamps https://t.co/ngJxNZxzLC
— CAASports (@CAASports) November 8, 2015

NOTEWORTHY
The championship is James Madison fourth in the 26-year history of the women's soccer program and first since 2010. The title that season came on a 2-0 victory over the Hofstra Pride, also in Hempstead, N.Y.

PHOTO OF THE GAME
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CAA RECORD
The Dukes are the first team in the 21-year history of the CAA women's soccer championship game to overcome this large of a deficit (2-0) to win.

CLIMBING THE RECORD BOARDS
With two goals in the title match, Herndon is tied for 11th in program history with Tasha Ellis (1995-97) for career goals with 26. With 73, she also moves past Aimee Grahe (1996-99) into 11th all-time in career points. Kerrigan also moved up the program career assists record board into 20th with 14.

2015 CAA WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Allie Bunner, James Madison

Ellen Forrest, James Madison

Ashley Herndon, James Madison (Most Outstanding Player)

Jennie Sroba, James Madison

Elysse Branton, William & Mary

Haley Kent, William & Mary

Meghan Musgrove, William & Mary

Leah Galton, Hofstra

Jill Mulholland, Hofstra

Madison Melnick, UNCW

Sydney Sawaya, UNCW

NCAA SELECTION SHOW WATCH PARTY
James Madison will be hosting a NCAA selection show watch party at O'Neill's Grill on University Blvd. at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9. The party is open to the public and free to enter.