HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The James Madison women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to Marshall at Hoops Family Field on Sunday afternoon. The game marks the sixth straight game for the Dukes, win or loss, decided by a single goal this season.
Marshall (7-1-1) forward Sydney Arnold's strike inthe 15th minute proved to be the difference. Arnold played through down the right side of the field and managed to get to the near post and slip the ball past senior goalkeeper Ellen Forrestto score the game-winning goal.
Despite the Herd coming out on top in goals, the Dukes (6-4-0) led in shots with a 15-14 margin and drew even in corner kick opportunities at three apiece.
Both goalkeepers' abilities were on full display today as Forrest collected six saves while Marshall's Lizzie Kish made eight. Kish kept the Dukes scoreless for the first time since a 1-0 loss at Delaware on October 19, 2014.
JMU's best chance to equalize came in the 83rd minute. Junior defender Jennie Sroba went forward to join the Dukes' attack and sent a cross in to junior midfielder Allie Bunner for a header attempt that shot over the crossbar.
Junior forward Ashley Herndon also earned a good chance for the Dukes in the 22nd minute, but her long-distance shot was cast aside on a diving save.
NOTEWORTHY Herndon was held without a point for the first time since October 26, 2014 against Elon. The streak, which tied Corky Julien's program-record nine straight games, started in the Dukes' final game of 2014.
SQUAD DEPTH Head Coach David Lombardo used the Dukes' depth, utilizing nine substitutes off of the bench for the first time since playing Seton Hall on August 20. Only Sroba and sophomore Nicole Caston played all 90 minutes of Sunday's contest.
COACH'S QUOTE "It wasn't one of our best efforts," said Lombardo. "When you play good teams, and Marshall is on a roll, you have to seize the opportunity and we weren't able to do that today."
NEXT UP The Dukes return to action on Friday, Sept. 25, when they welcome Towson to Harrisonburg to open conference play. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at University Park and admission is free.