Offensive Barrage and Shutout Defense Lead Dukes to Win Over Troy and Fourth Seed in Sun Belt Tournament

Thursday, October 27

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

10-3-5, 6-1-3

Troy

3-9-4, 1-6-3

Troy

James Madison

Offensive Barrage and Shutout Defense Lead Dukes to Win Over Troy and Fourth Seed in Sun Belt Tournament

10/27/2022 10:44:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Five James Madison women's soccer players scored goals and the defense secured a shutout for a program-record-tying 11th time this season to blank Troy, 5-0, on Thursday night at Sentara Park and secured the fourth seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

The Dukes hit double-digit wins entering postseason play for the first time since 2018 as they improved to 10-3-5, 6-1-3 SBC. The Trojans droppped to 3-9-4, 1-6-3 SBC.

Sophomore Amanda Attanasi led the offense with three shots as the Dukes scored the most goals in a match since scoring five against Tulsa on Sept. 3, 2017. On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt junior Alexandra Blom made four saves and redshirt freshman Rachel Bump saved one shot to combine for the shutout.

How It Happened

Attanasi got the scoring started in the 17^th minute as redshirt sophomore Alba Fernández Almagro passed to classmate Lexi Vanderlinden who flicked the ball to Attanasi to net her seventh goal of the season.
In the 26^th minute, redshirt senior Ashby Larkin scored her first goal of the season as a shot from her deflected off a Troy defender and bounced into the net.
Freshman Soleil Flores scored her first goal of the season in the 47^th minute, as the ball found itself in front of her in the box where she sent it into the top right corner of the goal.
In the 73^rd minute, redshirt sophomore London Lewis was fouled inside the box to set up a penalty kick for JMU. Graduate student Hannah Young stepped up and converted the PK, scoring her first career goal.
Redshirt sophomore Sammie Sipes was able to get in on her first career goal as well, netting the fifth goal of the night for JMU in the 86^th minute.

Game Notes

Vanderlinden records her fourth match of at least two assists, while Larkin scored a goal and an assist for the first time in her career.
The Dukes put eight of their 14 shots on goal.
JMU has now recorded back-to-back seasons of at least six conference wins, the first time that has happened since the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Quoting Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.
"What a great way to end our regular season on a big high with a lot of confidence. I'm glad we were able to use a lot of depth and provide a special experience for the seniors that are graduating for their last time on the Sentara Park field."

Up Next
The Dukes will be the fourth seed in the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Championship and will take on the fifth-seeded Texas State on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.