JMU Women Fall to Northeastern, 2-0

HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 27, 2012 -- Northeastern scored two breakaway goals in the first half and beat James Madison 2-0 in Colonial Athletic Association women's soccer Thursday evening at University Park.

courtesy JMU Athletics Photography

The Huskies (4-7-0, 2-1-0) won for the third time in their last four starts, while JMU (3-8-0, 1-2-0) dropped its second game in a row.

Northeastern got an early lead as the Huskies scored on their first shot in the opening minutes of the match.  Senior Sandra Magnusdottir (Reykjavik, Iceland/Verslunarskoli Islands) delivered a pass from behind the midfield line to redshirt sophomore Hannah O’Donnell (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park).  O'Donnell raced ahead of the JMU defense and took control of the ball about 25 yards from the goal.  She dribbled into the box and sent a 16-yard shot past redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Kate Courter (Lincoln Park, N.J./Immaculate Heart) and into the right corner of the goal.

Just before halftime the Huskies scored a second goal in a similar fashion.  This time junior Hanna Terry (Park City, Utah/Park City) sent a ball from behind the midfield stripe to redshirt sophomore Devin Griffin (Whitman, Mass./Whitman-Hanson).  Griffin controlled the ball a few yards outside the box, ahead of JMU's defenders, dribbled into the box and slipped a low shot into the right corner of the goal from 16 yards.

The Dukes had several quality scoring opportunities but Northeastern sophomore goalkeeper Paige Burnett (Placentia, Calif./Cypress) denied JMU five times to get her third shutout of the year.

Game Highlights

First Half:
* NU - Sandra Magnusdottir sends a ball from behind the midfield line to Hannah O'Donnell, who breaks ahead of the JMU defense.  O'Donnell dribbles toward the goal from 25 yards out and beats goalie Kate Courter with a shot from 16 yards to the right corner.
* NU - Hanna Terry sends a pass from behind the midfield line to Devin Griffin.  Griffin dribbles into the box and shoots from the left side from 16 yards to the lower right corner.

Second Half:
* JMU - Redshirt senior Kelly Germain (McLean, Va./Langley) gets her foot on a ball sent into the box, but her shot from five yards is just wide of the goal, 55:34.
* JMU - Junior Becky Sparks (Laurel Springs, N.J./Paul VI) crosses a ball into the box, where a header from six yards by sophomore Katie Hyland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) is saved by Paige Burnett, 64:45.
* JMU - A header by Sparks is saved by Burnett, 70:39.
* NU - A shot by O'Donnell sails just over the goal, 72:33.
* JMU - Freshman Elissa Halik (Spring, Texas/Klein Collins) controls the ball after a defensive play by Sparks gives the Dukes possession.  She sends a pass ahead to redshirt freshman Madyson Brown (Herndon, Va./Chantilly).  Brown's point-blank shot from three yards is stopped by Burnett, 76:02.
* NU - A shot by Terry from 15 yards out hits the crossbar, 84:15

Of Note
* The Dukes' next game is at home against Hofstra on Sunday (Sept. 30, 1 p.m.). 

Game Stats
Shots:  JMU 9, Northeastern 11
Saves:  JMU, Kate Courter 1 (45:00); Marlee Stynchula 1 (45:00); Northeastern, Paige Burnett 5 (90:00)
Corner kicks:  JMU 3, Northeastern 3
Scoring:
NU - Hannah O'Donnell (Sandra Magnusdottir), 3:56), 36:48
NU - Devin Griffin (Hanna Terry), 42:52