MATCH #11
WHO: ODU (6-3-1, 1-0-1) at James Madison (4-3-2, 2-0-0)
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 29 – 6 p.m.
WHERE: Harrisonburg, Va.
SERIES RECORD: JMU leads series 16-8-2
LAST MEETING: Nov. 5, 2023 - ODU 2, JMU 1 (2OT) – in Foley, Ala.
STREAM: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: here
NORFOLK, Va. – Heading on the road for only the second time this month, the Old Dominion women’s soccer team will venture to James Madison for a Sunday night Towne Bank Royal Rivalry matchup at 6 p.m.
The game will have live stats and be streamed on ESPN+.
This is a rematch of the last two Sun Belt Conference championship matches as ODU won both in double overtime in Foley, Alabama. In 2022, Carla Morich had a hat trick including the game winner at 105:50 in a 4-3 win. Last season, Sydney Somers scored her first collegiate goal at 108:10 as the Monarchs scored a 2-1 victory.
In last year’s regular season meeting, the teams played to a scoreless draw. ODU outshot JMU 14-8, but neither goalie cracked as the contest ended 0-0.
ODU is back in action after a 1-0 victory over ULM on Thursday night. After an even first half, ODU (6-3-1, 1-0-1) was the beneficiary of a fortuitous bounce nearly 18 minutes into the second half. Katie Lutz served one into the box, aiming for Yuliia Khrystiuk whose crossing attempt found the foot of a ULM defender before it landed in the back of the net at 62:49 for the 1-0 advantage.
JMU knocked off Coastal Carolina 3-1 on Thursday night as Ginny Lackey scored one goal and had two assists. Amanda Attanasi and Sophia Verrecchia added a goal apiece.
ABOUT ODU
Ashlynn Kulha has played all 90 minutes in each of the 10 games thus far in 2024. Heading back to last season, she has played in 1,120 straight minutes with the final two games of 2023 going into double overtime.
Through ten matches, Rhea Kijowski leads the Monarchs with three goals and one assist for seven points. Brooke Edwards has two goals and one assist for five points, while Katie Lutz has two goals for four points, and Yuliia Khrystiuk has one goal with two assists for four points. Riley Mullen and Andrea Balcazar Algarin have one goal and one assist each, with Gry Boe Thrysoe adding one goal and Laura Klebek adding one assist.
In goal, Emily Bredek and Erin Jones have split time in the net. Bredek has recorded 16 saves in five games with a save percentage of .842 and a goals against average of 0.74 in 365 minutes. Jones has made 15 saves in seven games with a .750 save percentage and a goals against average of 0.84 in 534 minutes.
The latest women’s soccer RPI rankings were released on Friday and ODU moved up four spots to 71st. The Monarchs are the highest ranked team in the Sun Belt Conference as JMU is next at 75th.
In the Sun Belt statistics, ODU is ranked second in shutouts, fourth in shots and fifth in corner kicks. JMU is third in goals scored, 13th in shots and 12th in corner kicks. Kijowski is ranked second in the league in shots and in shots per game, while Khrystiuk is eighth in shots and 10th in shots per game.
Bredek and Kulha were named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team, while the Monarchs were picked to finish first by the league coaches. Click here for that release.
ABOUT JMU
Lackey leads the Dukes in goals (five), points (12) and shots (14). Verrechia is next in goals (four) and points (nine), while Attanasi and Ariana Reyes have three goals and two assists apiece for eight points. Lexi Vanderlinden tops the team in assists with five.
In the net, Sofia DeCerb has started all nine games with a .714 save percentage, 35 saves and a 1.58 goals against average. She has recorded two shutouts.
NEXT UP
The Monarchs will be back in action on Friday, October 4 in Mobile, Alabama against South Alabama.
UP
The Monarchs will be back in action on Friday, October 4 in Mobile, Alabama against S