Tech knocks off JMU in women’s soccer

The Virginia Tech women’s soccer team remained unbeaten (2-0-0) on the young season as the Hokies posted a 3-1 win at James Madison (0-1-1) in the Dukes’ home-opener Sunday evening at the JMU Soccer Complex.

The Hokies opened up a 2-0 first-half lead before the Dukes got on the scoreboard early in the second half. Tech netted its final goal with 8:59 left to play.

Freshman Katie Yensen (Falls Church, Va./McLean) gave the Hokies a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute. Redshirt junior Amanda Gerhard (Catasauqua, Pa./Catasauqua) started the play as she sent a through ball into the box to Yenson, who hit a shot from 12 yards into the left corner of the goal.

The second Tech goal came in the 38th minute, when junior Kelly Conheeney (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) lofted a free kick into the box. Redshirt sophomore Shannon Mayrose (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Borough) sprinted past the Dukes’ defense to face redshirt freshman goalkeeper Kate Courter (Lincoln Park, N.J./Immaculate Heart) one-on-one. Mayrose one-timed an eight-yard shot into the left corner for a 2-0 Tech lead.

The Dukes trimmed the Tech lead to 2-1 when senior Yolie Anderson-Golhor (Ottawa, Ontario/Louis-Riel) headed a long throw-in from sophomore Becky Sparks (Laurel Springs, N.J./Paul VI) into the far corner of the goal. The score came 6:42 into the second period.

Tech got an insurance goal from sophomore Jazmine Reeves (Dover, Del./Caesar Rodney) in the 82nd minute. Conheeney sent a ball into the box from the left touchline near her team’s bench. It deflected off a JMU player and to the right side of the box, where Reeves knocked the ball into the net from 10 yards.

Tech starting sophomore goalkeeper Dayle Colpitts (Fredericton, NewBrunswick/Fredericton) left the game after a collision with a JMU player 37:06 into the match. She was replaced by redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Anna Romeiser (Roanoke, Va./Hidden Valley) for the final 52:54. Colpitts did not make a save, and Romeiser had two stops.

JMU redshirt freshman goalkeeper Kate Courter (Lincoln Park, N.J./Immaculate Heart) made six saves, including one on a penalty kick by Conheeney at 70:38 after a JMU player took down a Tech attacker in the box.

Tech held a 15-11 shot advantage.

“In the first half.they had one step on us all over the place,” said JMU Head Coach Dave Lombardo. “We just couldn’t take care of the ball. We kept turning it over, and they would just find extra players in the attacking half of the field that made our life difficult.”

The Dukes are back home next weekend as JMU hosts the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Invitational Tournament Friday and Sunday (Aug. 26 & 28). Friday’s matchups see Delaware take on Stony Brook in a 5 p.m. game, followed by JMU vs. Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Delaware meets Pitt at 11 a.m. and JMU faces Stony Brook at 1:30 p.m.