Dukes Net Most Goals Under Walters, Run Away in Conference Opener

Saturday, September 21

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

3-3-2, 1-0-0

Southern Miss

1-5-0, 0-1-0

Southern Miss.

James Madison

Dukes Net Most Goals Under Walters, Run Away in Conference Opener

9/21/2024 10:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Southern Miss got out to a 2-0 lead, but James Madison women's soccer scored seven unanswered goals to take its Sun Belt Conference opener emphatically, 7-2.

After taking over as head coach in 2019, seven goals for the Dukes are the most in the Joshua Walters Sr. era, and the most in a game since winning 6-0 over Towson in 2019. Freshman forward Ginny Lackey secured her second career brace in as many games, while senior forward Amanda Attanasi passed 50 career points with one goal and one assist. Junior defender Jamie Swartz grabbed her first career assists with two on the night, while freshman midfielder Tali Rovner and redshirt freshman Ellie Cook netted their first career goals. Redshirt junior forward Ariana Reyes and senior midfielder Sophia Verrecchia each scored one goal.

Redshirt freshman Sofia DeCerb made her eighth start in goal, playing 76 minutes and making two saves. Freshman Lili White saw her first career action in goal, playing 14 minutes.

Quoting Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.
"We started slow twice and unfortunately conceded goals both times. But I knew our quality and I wasn't stressed because I knew we had the ability to get those goals back. The girls found another level and it became a fun night."

How It Happened

The Golden Eagles capitalized on a JMU defensive miscue for the first score in the 8th minute by Rebeka Vega.
Lightning returned to the area in the 15th minute, prompting a two-hour delay.
Southern Miss kept its foot on the gas as play resumed, with Adaira Nakano netting a goal off a free kick just outside the box in the 18th minute.
The Dukes quickly swayed momentum in their favor, scoring three goals in the next ten minutes. Lackey struck first from an Attanasi cross in the 21st minute, Rovner provided the equalizer from a Lexi Vanderlinden assist in the 23rd minute, and Verrecchia booted a blocked shot into the net to give the Dukes the lead in the 26th minute.
Reyes added cushion to the JMU lead in the 40th minute with a rocket from just outside the box to make it 4-2 at the break.
Southern Miss kept fighting to open the second, but the Dukes would only allow one shot in the half.
Swartz handed out her assists on back-to-back goals in the 59th minute for Lackey's second score and Attanasi's goal in the 60th minute.
In the 81st minute, Cook headed in her goal, assisted by Shea Collins and Makenna Kirk, who also grabbed her first career assist on the play.

Quick Facts

Six goal scorers are the most in a single game this season for JMU.
The Dukes have scored seven goals in a single game five times prior, most recently in 1995 in a 7-0 shutout win over Radford.

Up Next
The Dukes continue conference play on the road against Coastal Carolina on Thursday, Sep. 26th. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.