HARRISONBURG, Va. – After a slow start to the match in the first half, James Madison pocketed three second half goals to put away Charlotte, 3-2, for a season-opening win on Thursday night at Sentara Park in non-conference women’s soccer.
The victory to start the season marked the first season-opening win for the Dukes since 2014 as they moved to 1-0. The 49ers begin the season 0-1.
Redshirt junior Alba Fernández Almagro, junior Shea Collins and freshman Jeanette Fieldsend were the goal scorers for the Dukes, who scored their most goals in a season opener since 2017. Redshirt senior Alexandra Blom spent all 90 minutes in goal for JMU and recorded two saves.
How It Happened
- Not a lot happened in the first half, as each team had the ball in their attacking third for a period of time each before trading the ball on turnovers.
- The first shot on goal came from Charlotte’s Kelly Hastings in the 41st minute off a corner kick that Blom saved.
- After a scoreless first half, it took less than three minutes for the Dukes to strike as Fieldsend netted her first goal of her career goal in her first career game. Collins received the ball at the far edge of the 18-foot box and dribbled towards the end line before kicking it back to sophomore Jordan Yang who then found a cutting Fieldsend at the penalty marker who gave JMU a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.
- Charlotte quickly responded in the 53rd minute on a free kick from just outside the box to knot the match at 1-1.
- Less than two minutes later in the 55th minute, a yellow card was assessed to Charlotte inside the box to reward JMU with a penalty kick. Fernández Almagro then stepped up and netted her first career goal in the left part of the net.
- Collins gave the Dukes a two-goal lead in the 65th minute with a shot along the left side of the box that curled over and bounced off the right post of the goal into the back of the net.
- A header by the 49ers off a corner kick in the 86th minute made it a 3-2 match.
Quick Facts
- Four of the Dukes’ six shots were put on goal.
- Charlotte outshot the Dukes 15-6.
- Shea Collins’ goal was the third of her career and her assist was the sixth.
Quoting Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.
“Early in the season, it’s important to figure out how to win and I thought we did a great job of that today. Credit to the girls for being able to execute a tactical change on the fly. Now we need to use this win to build momentum.”
Up Next
The Dukes welcome UNC Greensboro to Sentara Park on Sunday, Aug. 20 for a 6 p.m. tilt. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
