Early Outburst Lifts Dukes to 3-1 Victory at Elon

Sunday, September 25

Elon, NC

1 p.m.

James Madison University

4-7-0, 1-1CAA

Elon

5-5-1, 1-1CAA

James Madison

Elon

9/25/2016 4:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score @JMUWSoccer 2016 Schedule

ELON, N.C. - The James Madison women's soccer team racked up three goals in the first 26 minutes on Sunday afternoon as the Dukes rolled to a 3-1 victory over Elon in Colonial Athletic Association women's soccer action at Rudd Field.

The Dukes, who improved to 4-7-0 (1-1-0 CAA) with the road win, played a complete match, outshooting Elon by a 17-6 margin and holding the Phoenix (5-5-1, 1-1-0 CAA) to just three shots on goal for the contest.

Sophomore Kylie Hegemier and senior Sydney Braun-McLeod each scored their first goal of the season to open the scoring, with Hegemier's marking the first of her career, before sophomore Steffi Page tallied her fourth of the year to cap JMU's scoring.

Senior forward Ashley Herndon threatened throughout, racking up five shots and putting a pair on goal, while freshman winger Haley Crawford added two SOG of her own and assisted on Page's goal. Freshman goalkeeper Hannah McShea made her first 90-minute stint for the Dukes, tallying a pair of saves en route to the victory.

Hegemier opened the scoring in the 15th minute, lofting in a shot from 25 yards out on the right side that dipped into the top-left corner of the goal to put the Dukes up, 1-0. Just over six minutes later, Braun-McLeod doubled JMU's advantage, cutting in from the right corner and ripping a left-footed shot across the frame, beating the keeper and tucking the ball inside the left post to make it 2-0.

In the 26th minute, Crawford broke away from her defender in the attacking third and fired a shot that was parried into Page's path. The sophomore did not miss her chance, burying the opportunity from 12 yards to make it 3-0 and give her four goals on just seven shots on goal this season.

Elon would cut the lead to 3-1 on an 84th-minute goal from Kennedy Little, but would not threaten again. Taylor Mohr would make five saves for the Phoenix in the loss.

QUOTING COACH LOMBARDO
"I'm very happy with this team's mentality. They could have been down from Friday's loss at William & Mary, but they instead showed great resolve by getting off to a fast start. We got the early goals, played a good possession game and a very solid game defensively. Getting a conference win on the road is critical for us."

SPREADING OUT THE SCORING
With Kylie Hegemier and Sydney Braun-McLeod each notching their first goals of the season, the Dukes have already gotten goals from nine different players through 11 matches. That matches JMU's total from last year, when nine players scored across 23 contests.

UP NEXT
The Dukes return home this week for their first two CAA home matches of the season. JMU will welcome Drexel to Sentara Park on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. before taking on Delaware at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2.