PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle University women’s soccer team controlled the majority of play on Sunday evening against James Madison, leading the Dukes in nearly every offensive category including shots (16-5), shots on goal (8-2), and corner kicks (8 -3).
In the end, however, it was JMU finding the back of the net twice to snap La Salle’s season-opening, three-match win streak and come away with a 2-0 win at McCarthy Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a free kick by the Explorers was thwarted by the JMU goalkeeper in the 10th minute, the visitors found the scoring column less than a minute later when Caley Zack converted on a chance right in front of the net off a pass by Lidia Nduka.
- In the 20th minute, sophomore Shea Collins cut inside from the left and rifled a right-footed shot just wide of the upper-right corner.
- With just under three minutes remaining in the opening stanza, sophomore Courtney Butlion had a go from just outside the box but had her shot stopped by Alexandra Blom.
- Less than five minutes after the start of the second half, JMU doubled its lead when Lidia Nduka found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and converted to the lower-right corner to put the score at 2-0.
- The Explorers continued to try and put pressure on JMU, outshooting the Dukes by a 10-3 margin in the second half but could not find the finishing touch.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Butlion, Collins, and senior Emily Banashefski each had three shots to lead the Explorers, while Nduka had a pair of attempts to pace James Madison.
- Blom tallied eight saves to record the shutout win.
UP NEXT
- La Salle travels to upstate New York to take on Colgate (0-2-1) Thursday, Sept. 1, before returning home for a Sunday matinee against UAlbany (0-4) on Sept. 4.