Dukes Prevail in 3-1 Victory over Delaware

Sunday, October 2

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

5-8-0 (2-2-0CAA)

Delaware

3-10-0 (2-2-0CAA)

Delaware

James Madison

10/2/2016 5:22:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison used goals from senior Ashley Herndon and freshmen Haley Crawford and Claire Meiser to roll to a 3-1 victory over Delaware in Colonial Athletic Association women's soccer action on Sunday afternoon at Sentara Park.

The Dukes, who scored three goals for the third time in five matches, improved to 5-8 (2-2 CAA) on the season and jumped into a tie for fourth in the league after Sunday's action. Delaware fell to 3-10 (2-2 CAA) in the loss.

JMU outshot its opponent for the ninth consecutive contest on Sunday, racking up 15 to the Blue Hens' eight, including a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal. Herndon tallied a match-high four shots for the Dukes, while Crawford posted three shots on goal of her own, including the goal that opened the scoring.

Crawford got things started in the 12th minute with the third goal of her collegiate career. Senior defender Jennie Sroba played in a cross from the left wing that Crawford caught on the bounce, firing a first-touch shot that was parried by Delaware goalkeeper Kailyn Rekos, but spun into the net to put the Dukes up, 1-0.

Herndon doubled JMU's advantage just 2:01 before halftime, after sophomore Carmen Thomas did much of the legwork with a lengthy run from the midfield. Thomas pushed a through ball into the box that Herndon finished with her first touch to give the Dukes a 2-0 lead heading into the halftime break.

After the Blue Hens pulled a goal back in the 69th minute, Meiser sealed things with her first collegiate goal in the 88th. Senior Sydney Braun-McLeod found the freshman with a long ball from the right wing and Meiser held off a defender on a pair of dribbles before finishing from 15 yards to close the scoreline at 3-1.

Freshman goalkeeper Hannah McShea continued her run of strong play for the Dukes, tallying five saves to preserve the victory, while Rekos was forced to make six saves in the loss.

QUOTING COACH LOMBARDO
"We beat a very good Delaware team today with a balanced attack and solid defending. Getting two goals from freshmen is important, as it shows they are getting more confident and making their mark at an important time of year. Ashley Herndon played another strong match, along with Allie Bunner in the midfield and Allison Bortell anchoring the back line. We had freshmen and seniors getting it done!"

PLAY OF THE MATCH

Freshman Haley Crawford fired this first-touch shot off a cross from senior Jennie Sroba to put the Dukes up 1-0 early in their eventual 3-1 win over Delaware on October 2.

CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOKS
Senior forward Ashley Herndon continued her march up the JMU career top-10 lists with her performance on Sunday afternoon:

Goals: 5th, 32; (4th, 34; Kim Argy, 2001-05)
Assists: 6th, 25; Cate Tisinger, 2007-10 (5th, 27: Samantha Andersch, 1993-96)
Points: 6th, 89 (t-4th, 93: Julie Reule, 1991-94; Teresa Rynier, 2007-10)

PHOTO OF THE MATCH | COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY
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JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne recognizes Head Coach Dave Lombardo for his 400th career head coaching win, making him just the seventh Division I coach to ever reach that milestone.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will hit the road for a single match, heading north to face Towson at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8. The Tigers dropped a 2-0 decision to Drexel at home on Sunday, falling to 5-8-1 (2-2-0 CAA) and into a tie for fourth with JMU and Delaware.