Dukes Fall to Drexel in CAA Semifinals

Friday, November 4

Brookline, Mass.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

9-11-0

Drexel

9-6-4

James Madison

Drexel

11/4/2016 6:23:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score 2016 Results 2016 Statistics @JMUWSoccer

BROOKLINE, Mass. - James Madison could not bounce back from two first-half goals on Friday afternoon, as the third-seeded Dukes dropped a 2-0 decision to No. 2 Drexel in the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals at Parsons Field.

The Dukes mounted a charge in the second half, outshooting Drexel by a 10-5 margin after the break, but could not find the back of the net as they finished their 2016 campaign with a 9-11 (5-4 CAA) record. With the win, Drexel advanced to the CAA title match, where they will face the winner of top-seeded Northeastern and No. 5 William & Mary at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6.

Senior Allison Bortell led JMU's offense on the day, racking up a match-high five shots, while seniors Ashley Herndon and Sydney Braun-McLeod each added a pair, with Herndon leading the team with two shots on goal.

Junior goalkeeper Maggie Buxton racked up a career-high 10 saves on the afternoon to keep the Dukes in the match. Drexel goalkeeper Christiana Ogunsami, the CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year, used seven saves to keep JMU off the board.

Drexel opened the scoring in the 30th minute off a corner kick from Kylie Strong. Buxton got a hand to the ball to prevent the corner from bending into the net, but the rebound took a deflection and Kiera Hennessy punched in the goal amid traffic inside the six-yard box.

Shaelyn McCarty doubled the Dragons' advantage just before halftime, blasting a 25-yard free kick just inside the right post in the 43rd minute to put the Dukes in a deep hole. After the break, JMU fought back onto the attack immediately, racking up two shots and three corner kicks inside the first five minutes.

After the second half settled down, the Dukes pushed forward for one final effort in the final minutes, putting five shots on frame in the final seven minutes and holding Drexel to just one shot across the final 35 minutes.

SENIOR LEGACY
Friday's contest marked the final JMU match for Bri Klein, Allie Bunner, Sydney Braun-McLeod, Ashley Herndon, Allison Bortell and Jennie Sroba, six seniors who left an outstanding mark on the JMU program.

After the Dukes went 7-11 in 2012, the season prior to their arrival, the 2016 class of seniors won 50 matches in their four seasons, a stretch that included four consecutive trips to the CAA Semifinals and the 2015 CAA Championship, the fourth title in program history.

STERLING CAREER
Friday's match concludes the standout career of Ashley Herndon, one of the most decorated players in program history. Herndon closes her JMU years near the top of multiple career top-10 lists:

Goals: 4th, 37 (3rd, 39; Therese Wolden, 1995-98)
Assists: t-5th, 27 (t-5th, 27; Samantha Andersch, 1993-96 | 4th, 28; Aimee Vaughan, 1994-97)
Points: t-3rd, 101 (t-3rd, 101; Therese Wolden, 1995-98 | 2nd, 102; Corky Julien, 2006-09)