JMU soccer’s Ashley Herndon earns CAA Player of the Week honor

Sophomore forward Ashley Herndon (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) of the JMU women’s soccer team has been named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Player of the Week for games played Aug. 18-24, the league announced Monday.

Herndon was involved in three of the four goals the Dukes scored during the opening weekend in the Fairfield Inn by Marriott JMU Invitational, played at University Park. The forward scored on Friday night, Aug. 22, in a 2-1 victory over Xavier, and assisted on both goals Sunday, Aug. 24, in a 2-1 win over UMass to complete the tournament with a 2-0-0 record.

The sophomore scored the game-winning goal for JMU on Friday in the 24th minute when she took a cross from Sam Lofton (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) and put a one-timer in the back of the net for JMU’s second goal in three minutes. Both assists in Sunday’s game came in the second half after a scoreless first half.

For her efforts, Herndon was named to the All-Tournament team with Lofton, Katie Hyland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) and Rachel Ivey (South Riding, Va./Freedom).

The accolade adds to an already impressive list for Herndon, as she was named CAA Rookie of the Week three times in 2013 on her way to being named the conference’s Rookie of the Year.

The Dukes return to action Friday, Aug. 29, in Winston-Salem, N.C., against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. In the 2014 Preseason NSCAA poll, the Demon Deacons checked in at No. 21 in the country. Kick between JMU and Wake Forest is set for 7 p.m.