WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Senior Elysse Branton scored the game-winner in the 76th minute as the William & Mary women's soccer team poured in a season-high four goals in a 4-3 CAA Quarterfinal win at No. 4 James Madison on Sunday afternoon in Harrisonburg, Va. Seniors Sami Grasso, Rachel Moore, and Branton, as well as junior Mackenzie Kober all scored for the Green and Gold in the victory. With the win, the Tribe improves to 8-9-2, while the Dukes wrap up their season at 9-10.
 
W&M wasted little time getting on the board as they jumped to the lead in just the fifth minute. Moore drove the left side of the pitch, before heading into the area and playing a low cross toward the goal line. Racing in from the right side was Grasso, who redirected the pass into the back of the net.
 
Just eight minutes later, the Tribe doubled its lead. Moore played a long ball into the middle of the attacking third that was chased down by Kober. With the keeper charging her, the junior rocketed a shot into the top middle of the net. Her second of the season pushed the Tribe advantage to 2-0.
 
James Madison responded with three of the next four goals to level the score. The Dukes cut the lead to one before halftime as Kylie Hegemier found the back of the net on a feed from Steffi Page and Phoebe Dinga. However, Moore regained a two-goal advantage when she put home a pass from redshirt sophomore Sarah Segan, but James Madison's Ginger Deel and Haley Crawford each scored from distance to level the score at 3-3.
 
Branton became the hero in the 76th minute when she put home the game-winner thanks to a great individual effort. Branton made a long run down the right side of the field before pushing toward the penalty spot. As she dove she trickled her shot by the JMU keeper to give W&M 4-3 win.
 
W&M Starters:  #0 Smith (GK), #4 Grasso, #6 Dailey, #7 Branton, #8 Moore, #9 Segan, #10 Kober, #12 Kelly, #13 Kent, #15 Robbins, #22 Keith
 
James Madison Starters: #00 McShea (GK),  #3 Gawkins, #8 Caston, #9 Crawford, #11 Deel, #13 Stein, #14 Hendrie, #16 Lazzaro, #18, Brause, #21 Ruffolo, #23 Borum
 
Goals
5' | Sami Grasso (W&M) Assist: Rachel Moore
13' | Mackenzie Kober (W&M) Assist: Elysse Branton
41' | Kylie Hegemier (JMU) Assist: Steffi Page, Phoebe Dinga
53' | Moore (W&M) Assist: Sarah Segan
59' | Ginger Deel (JMU) Assist: Haley Crawford
69' | Crawford (JMU) Assist: Christine Tack
76' | Branton (W&M) Unassisted
 
Inside the Numbers
- W&M outshot the Dukes 10-8 in the match, which included a 7-4 mark in the second half.
- The Tribe also held a 7-4 advantage in shots on-goal and corner kicks in the victory.
- Seniors Sami Grasso and Rachel Moore, junior Mackenzie Kober, and redshirt sophomore Sarah Segan all fired a match-high two shots in the win.
 
Notes
Senior Sami Grasso netted her fourth goal of the season and 14th of her career in the fifth minute … Junior Mackenzie Kober recorded her second marker of the season and the eighth of her career … Senior Rachel Moore added her third and fourth assist of the season and the 15th and 16th of her career in the match ...The senior added her fifth goal of the season and the 20th of her career in the second half… It extended Moore's point streak to five straight contests and she has scored a goal in the last four matches for W&M … Senior Elysse Branton netted her fifth goal of the season and the seventh of her career … Branton's point streak sits at four straight games and she has netted goals in three straight games …Redshirt sophomore Sarah Segan recorded her fourth assist of the season and sixth of her career … Segan has an assist in each of the last three games … Senior Grace Smith made one save in her fourth victory of the season … W&M also advances to its sixth straight CAA Semifinal … The Tribe now leads the all-time series with James Madison 22-14-4.
 
What's Ahead
The Tribe advances to the CAA Semifinals as they travel to Hofstra to take on the top-seeded and host Pride on Friday, Nov. 3. Kickoff from Hofstra Soccer Stadium is set for 7 PM. The game will be streamed for free on CAA.TV.