Defense Gets Tenth Shutout of the Season in Scoreless Draw with South Alabama

Sunday, October 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

12 p.m.

James Madison University

8-2-4, 4-0-2

South Alabama

7-1-6, 3-0-3

South Alabama

James Madison

Defense Gets Tenth Shutout of the Season in Scoreless Draw with South Alabama

10/9/2022 3:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The defensive front of James Madison recorded its tenth shutout of the season, one shy from the program record of 11, as they drew South Alabama, 0-0, Sunday afternoon in Sun Belt Conference women's soccer play at Sentara Park.

The Dukes move to 8-2-4, 4-0-2 SBC as the Jaguars now stand at 7-1-6, 3-0-3 SBC.

Redshirt sophomore Alba Fernández Almagro and sophomore Sophia Verrecchia led the team offensively with two shots each. Redshirt junior Alexandra Blom made three saves in goal on the way to her seventh shutout of the season, tying the junior class record for solo shutouts.

How It Happened

It was a slow start to the contest, with the first shot of the match not coming until the 12^th minute off the foot of Suwaitbatu Mohammed.
After a second JMU shot by Fernández Almagro, the Jaguars found a bit of rhythm as they took four shots over the next 20 minutes.
South Alabama had a pair of shots blocked within 17 seconds of each other before the first half ended.
In the 67^th minute, the Jaguars had one of its best chances up to that point. Set up by a corner kick that was sent into the box, Sydney Ham was able to gather the ball after a struggle and put it on goal with Blom sticking out a foot to save the shot and keep the match scoreless.
The Jaguars had another chance in the 83^rd minute as Kailey Littleford received a pass inside the box and fired a shot across the box. The post went just past a diving Blom, hitting off the post and bouncing back into the field of play.

Game Notes

The Dukes had seven offsides calls against them compared to the Jaguars' one.
The scoreless draw is the fourth for the Dukes this season.
JMU has not allowed a goal in the run of play in 576:55 consecutive minutes.
The Dukes have not allowed a goal in the first half all season, making it 18 straight without conceding a first half goal stretching back to last season.

Quoting Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.
"When we joined the Sun Belt Conference, I circled the South Alabama game as a measuring stick because they have won so many titles. Today's match was a back-and-forth competitive game that you love being a part of. Credit to our players getting the result after the long travel to Texas State!"

Up Next
JMU will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 14 when they hit the road to take on Marshall in Huntington, W.Va. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.