Dukes Drop Hard-Fought Decision to No. 18 Virginia Tech

Sunday, August 28

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

0-4

Virginia Tech

4-0

Virginia Tech

James Madison

8/28/2016 11:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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HARRISONBURG, Va. - No. 18 Virginia Tech got a pair of goals from junior forward Alani Johnson on Sunday evening as it handed James Madison a 2-0 loss in non-conference women's soccer action at University Park.

Both JMU (0-4) shots on goal came in the opening stanza, with senior forward Sydney Braun-McLeod having an attempt smothered from short range and freshman forward Phoebe Dinga finding the keeper's gloves from a tight angle just a few minutes before the break.

Johnson tallied her goals on either side of halftime, heading home a deft chip in the 36th minute to put the Hokies on the board before finishing a close-range goal in traffic in the 46th to double Tech's advantage. Freshman midfielder Lilly Weber assisted on both goals.

In all, the Hokies (4-0) outshot JMU, 16-5, buoyed by a 10-1 advantage in the second half as Tech's depth advantage became evident.

Despite the barrage of shots, the Dukes prevented Tech from many clear chances, as the Hokies tallied just three shots on goal, drawing one save out of sophomore Olivia Miller. Freshman Mandy McGlynn needed just two saves on the evening to preserve the shutout for Tech.

QUOTING COACH LOMBARDO
"I think we took a step forward tonight in terms of belief in what we can do. If we can get consistent and get a few people back healthy again, we have some beatable opponents on the road if we can put this type of effort in. This group has the mental toughness to want to fight and do that."

PHOTO OF THE DAY
Carmen Thomas flies towards the ball in Sunday's nightcap. Check out the full gallery here.

UP NEXT
The Dukes hit the road this week for four consecutive matches away from Harrisonburg. JMU travels to East Carolina at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, and Liberty at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4, before taking on Boston University and Indiana in a pair of neutral-site matches in Blacksburg, Va. the following weekend.