Late Goal by Attanasi Helps Dukes Take Down Old Dominion

Thursday, September 22

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

6-2-2, 2-0-0

Old Dominion

3-5-1, 1-1-0

Old Dominion

James Madison

Late Goal by Attanasi Helps Dukes Take Down Old Dominion

9/22/2022 10:01:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – After over 85 minutes of play with both teams battling windy conditions, sophomore Amanda Attanasi fired home her fifth goal of the season to give James Madison a 1-0 victory over Old Dominion in Sun Belt Conference women's soccer action on Thursday night at Sentara Park.

The Dukes (6-2-2, 2-0 SBC) have won six of their first 10 matches for the first time since 2017. The Monarchs fall to 3-5-1 overall and sit at 1-1 in league play.

Attanasi led the Dukes offensively with four shots, one shy of her career-high. Redshirt junior Alexandra Blom made two saves in goal and now has five shutouts on the season, moving her two away from matching the program's junior class single-season record.

How It Happened

Despite the Dukes leading in shots in the first half at 7-3, the teams combined for only one shot on goal.
In the 52^nd minute, senior Lidia Nduka got around the ODU keeper and had a look on goal, but a Monarch defender stepped in and kept the match scoreless.
Riley Kennett put the first shot on goal for ODU that would end up as Blom's first save of the match.
Redshirt sophomore Lexi Vanderlinden hit the crossbar in the 78^th minute, missing giving JMU the lead by inches.
Attanasi finally broke the scoreless tie in the 86^th minute, taking a feed from classmate Sophia Verrecchia and beating the ODU defender by a step to fire in the shot.

Game Notes

The Dukes continue their excellent defensive play this season, once again not allowing a first half goal. They are now up to seven shutouts this season, the most in a season since seven in 2018.
Verrecchia notched her first career assist.
JMU won its first two conference games for the first time since 2018.
Attanasi now has four game-winning goals this season, one away from tying the program's sophomore class record.

Quoting Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.
"I am so proud of how hard we fought today! What a great battle with ODU. That game was what you would hope from a rivalry conference game and it took some grit to come out on top. Credit to ODU; they are a fantastic team that will win quite a few Sun Belt games this year."

Up Next
The Dukes hit the road as they travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. to take on Southern Miss on Sunday, Sept. 25. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and will be streamed on ESPN+.