Lackey's Brace Lifts Dukes Over East Carolina

Sunday, September 15

Greenville, N.C.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

2-3-2, 0-0-0

East Carolina

4-1-3, 1-0-0

James Madison

East Carolina

9/15/2024 5:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Freshman forward Ginny Lackey secured her first career goal and brace to propel James Madison women's soccer over East Carolina, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at Johnson Stadium.

With the win, the Dukes moved to 2-3-2, while East Carolina suffered its first loss of the season and moved to 3-1-3. Lackey netted both her goals in the second half in one-on-one action, and led JMU in shots with four total. Senior Sophia Verrecchia took two shots while classmates Shea Collins and Amanda Attanasi each registered one.

Redshirt freshman Sofia DeCerb made her seventh start in goal, playing all 90 minutes and making two saves. The shutout is the second of her career.

Quoting Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.
"I couldn't think of a better birthday gift than a performance like that. I was also really happy we could get that win for Rob who was back playing against East Carolina for the first time since he left as the winningest head coach in ECU history. They are a fantastic team which caused us to up our level in the second half. The girls answered the call. Then Ginny showed her quality with an absolute blast for the first goal! So proud of all the girls today for executing something we don't normally do."

How It Happened

The Pirates attacked early, drawing three corner kicks in the first seven minutes.
ECU drew a corner kick in the 13th minute that was put in goal but waived off because of a Pirate foul for hindering the goalie.
JMU first tested the Pirate goalie in the 19th minute when Collins took a shot that was saved by the ECU goalie.
Verrecchia tested the goalie again in the 22nd minute and had her shot parried above the net.
DeCerb made her first save of the match off the Pirates' seventh corner kick of the half right as time expired in the first frame.
ECU tested DeCerb again early in the second period, taking a shot in the 49th minute that she saved in the bottom center of the net.
In the 65th minute, Lackey took off dribbling from just outside the center circle and fired a lefty rocket past the ECU goalie for the first score.
The Duke offense started to flow following the goal, with Lackey and Verrecchia each taking a shot in the 68th and 75th minute.
Lackey kept the pressure up, intercepting a pass from the ECU goalie that she took herself for the second score of the match in the 79th minute to make it 2-0 JMU.
The Dukes were able to hold ECU to just two blocked shots down the stretch to secure the win.

Quick Facts

East Carolina touted a 0.286 GAA coming into the match, and had not previously given up two goals in a single game all season until this afternoon.
Ginny Lackey is the first Duke to have a brace since Jeanette Fieldsend in the 2023 Sun Belt Conference tournament against App State.
Despite being outshot by ECU 10-8, JMU put more shots on goal (4-2).

Up Next
The Dukes will return to Sentara Park on Saturday, Sept. 21 to open Sun Belt Conference play against Southern Miss. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.