HARRISONBURG, Va. - Sophomore
Ginger Deel headed home a long throw-in at the 3:02 mark of the first overtime period on Sunday afternoon, giving James Madison a crucial 3-2 victory over UNCW in Colonial Athletic Association women's soccer at Sentara Park.
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Despite spending the final 16:14 of regulation and all 3:02 of the overtime period down a player due to a pair of yellow cards, the Dukes (7-7, 4-1 CAA) dominated the stat sheet, outshooting UNCW (8-4, 2-3 CAA) by a 16-5 margin--including 9-2 after the halftime break--and putting seven of their attempts on frame.
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Deel notched a pair of goals on the afternoon, marking her first career multi-goal performance, as she led the JMU offense with a match-high four shots (three SOG), while junior
Haley Crawford picked up her second goal in as many matches and added an assist on Deel's opener.
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Junior goalkeeper
Hannah McShea needed just one save to pick up the victory, the Dukes' sixth in seven matches and third straight at home.
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HOW THEY SCORED
JMU
11' | Deel provided the opener just 10:26 into the match, needing just one touch to bury a low cross from six yards after Crawford evaded a pair of defenders down the left wing to deliver the pass.
48' | Crawford equalized for the Dukes immediately after halftime, latching onto a ball over the top before being tugged down in the box from behind and coolly burying the ensuing penalty kick herself for her team-best sixth goal of the year.
94' | Deel completed her brace with the game-winner only 3:02 into the first overtime period, getting under a long throw-in from freshman
Hannah Coulling and flicking a header directly behind that tucked itself just inside the far post to give the Dukes the victory.
UNCW
41' | UNCW levelled the match less than five minutes before halftime, when a JMU defender mistakenly headed a corner kick just inside the near post of the Dukes' net for an own goal.
44' | The Seahawks took the lead just 2:46 later, when Marissa Vincent headed home a corner kick from Audrey Harding to put UNCW up 2-1.
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QUOTING COACH WALTERS
"There are times in a season when you feel like your team turns a corner--this was one of those times. Going down a player on a really hot Sunday afternoon against a very good UNCW team and we find the result because you just dig in: this is a defining moment in the season."
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"Hats off to
Ginger Deel today, as she was a big difference maker for us in front of goal, and I thought our defense did a great job of eliminating chances for a strong UNCW offense. This was a great team win today!"
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CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOKS
With another goal and assist on Sunday, junior
Haley Crawford continued her climb up the JMU career leaderboards. Her goal, the 18th of her 53-match career, moved her into a tie for 17th in program history with
Sarah Cebulski (2003-06), while her 22nd career assist put her in a tie for ninth with
Kim Germain (2005-08).
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Combined, her 58 points are now tied for 18th in program history with
Teri Joyce (1999-02).
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CAA STANDINGS
Northeastern - 18 pts. (6-0)
James Madison - 12 (4-1)
College of Charleston - 10 (3-1-1)
Hofstra - 10 (3-2-1)
William & Mary - 7 (2-2-1)
UNCW - 6 (2-3)
Drexel - 3 (1-3)
Elon - 3 (1-3)
Delaware - 3 (1-3)
Towson - 1 (0-5-1)
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UP NEXT
The Dukes will hit the road this week for a pair of crucial CAA matchups, traveling to College of Charleston for a 7 p.m. matchup on Thursday, Oct. 11, before heading back north for a 2 p.m. bout at William & Mary on Sunday, Oct. 14.
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Both teams played their opponents to a draw on Sunday, with Charleston tying at Towson in a 3-3 shootout and W&M earning a 1-1 draw at Hofstra.
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