HARRISONBURG, Va. – The William and Mary women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 Colonial Athletic Association match at James Madison on Friday night in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The lone goal of the match was an own goal in the 71st minute. With the decision, the Tribe falls to 11-4-1, 5-3-0 in CAA play, while the Dukes improve 11-7, 6-2 in league action.
Both teams had early chances in the match, but the Tribe were able to muster a pair of chances. Senior Emory Camper turned the first shot of the night on target, but JMU's Ellen Forrest was there for the save. Just two minutes later, the Dukes' Sam Lofton fired a shot towards the W&M cage, but junior goalkeeper Caroline Casey was there for the stop. The final chance came in the ninth minute, when junior Leci Irvin uncorked a shot, but again Forrest was there for the save.
The Tribe had another chance in the 31st to get on the scoreboard first, but their shot was saved. Camper was able to head a ball to towards the cage, but again Forrest was there for the stop.
Neither side could find a goal in the first half, and the match went to the break scoreless. W&M held a slight 5-4 advantage in shots, including a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal.
Much like the first half, both teams had chances with shots to open the second stanza. Junior Barbara Platenberg fired a shot, but it sailed high and out of play, ending the threat. Moments later on the other end of the pitch, JMU's Ashley Herndon pushed her shot wide.
Following the Dukes first chance of the period, they continued their threat with three straight shots, but none of them came on target. Elissa Halik had the first opportunity, but she pushed her shot wide. The second came on a chance from Lofton that was blocked. The final shot on the attack came from Ashley Herndon, but it sailed high.
James Madison got on the scoreboard the first on the benefit of an own goal. After a W&M foul the Dukes had a free kick. On the kick, Herndon lined up the free kick but it was deflected off of a W&M defender and into the left corner of the goal. The tally gave JMU 1-0 lead.
The Tribe came storming back looking for the equalizer following the James Madison goal. Freshman Rachel Moore uncorked a shot on target in the 71st minute, but again Forrest was there for the stop. Six minutes later, Camper charged the box and launched her shot just high of the cage. That was the Tribe's final shot, but they did have a corner kick in the 82nd minute that was solved by JMU.
James Madison outshot the Tribe 11-8, however the Tribe had a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal. Forrest made four saves in the shutout for the Dukes. Casey finished with one save for the Green and Gold. Offensively, Camper fired a team-high three shots.
The Green and Gold concludes its regular season schedule with a match at Towson on Sunday, Oct. 26. Kickoff between the Tribe and Tigers is set for 2 p.m.
