HARRISONBURG, Va. - Old Dominion women’s soccer fell, 2-1 at James Madison on Sunday night at Sentara Park in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
"We’re disappointed leaving JMU tonight, it was a hard-fought game, and I think we started off great and established control of the game quickly," said ODU Head Coach Will Roberts. "Unfortunately, the equalizer for JMU changed the momentum of the game. In the second half we felt like we came back and established control in their half again through most of it but again another set piece decided the game. The next game we play will tell us a lot about the group we have and the reaction we want."
Old Dominion’s record now sits at 5-6-2 after 13 games played. The Monarchs suffered their first loss in Sun Belt Conference play to move to 3-1-2.
James Madison (7-5-1, 5-1 SBC) scored the game-winning goal in the 81st minute from a corner kick by Ginny Lackey. Lackey fired it towards the near post and an ODU defender went to clear the ball with her head. The ball deflected and went into the top corner past Ellie Goodrich to take a 2-1 lead.
The Monarchs looked to respond quickly and Mia Serna put a shot on target 40 seconds after the kickoff. But it was low and did not trouble JMU’s goalkeeper Sofia DeCerb. Trying to find a late equalizing goal, Old Dominion subbed on forwards Hannah Morgan and Reese Kulha for midfielders Ally Richardson and Serna. But the Monarchs could not get another chance as the game finished by a score of 2-1.
The Silver and Blue applied pressure on James Madison straight from the opening kickoff and were rewarded with the opening goal in the 18th minute. Ashley Economopoulos received the ball in the Dukes’ defensive final third and found Katie Lutz out on the right wing. The Carrollton, Virginia native found Riley Mullen who squeezed a shot inside the near post and into the net to take a 1-0 lead.
JMU leveled the game in the 27th from a set piece, Aleigha Arndt was on the receiving end of a well-placed lofted cross by Selma Rajakangas. Rajakangas’ cross found Ardnt in the middle of the box after she beat out an ODU defender for the ball to make the score 1-1.
Both teams had two shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes. ODU had one more corner kick than JMU (3-2), but JMU had one more shot in the half (4-3). The Monarchs finished the game with one more shot (7-6), and shot on goal (4-3), than the Dukes while ending the night with a +4-corner kick differential (7-3).
Grace Hillis, Sydney Somers, Dylan McEntarfer, Libby Holmes, and Ashlynn Kulha all played 90 minutes in the outfield. Seven Monarchs ended the night with one shot each but Madison Telmer, Economopoulos, and Mullen each tested Decerb with a shot on goal.
Goodrich made one save in 90 minutes of action and Decerb made three saves and also played 90 minutes. Goodrich’s record in goal falls to 4-5-2.
UP NEXT:
Old Dominion returns to the ODU Soccer Complex on Sunday, October 18 to face Georgia Southern at 1 p.m. The Monarchs then gear up to face Louisiana Tech on Thursday, October 22 in Ruston, Louisiana at 8 p.m.