JMU Women Lose 4-2 at Northeastern

BROOKLINE, Mass., Sept. 25, 2011 -- The James Madison women's soccer team ran into a hot Northeastern side Sunday afternoon as the Huskies won their fourth straight, beating the Dukes 4-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play at Parsons Field.

Northeastern, which got off to a 3-0 lead in the opening half, improved to 6-4-0 overall and 2-0-0 in league play. 

JMU's record now stands at 4-4-2 and 1-1-0 in the CAA.

Northeastern scored twice in the opening seven minutes, converting on its first two shots of the game and forcing the Dukes to play catch-up the entire match.  The Huskies pushed their lead to 3-0 with a goal in the 25th minute before JMU got on the scoreboard in the 30th minute to cut the margin to 3-1.

In the second half NU netted another early goal just 5:07 into the period to extend its lead to 4-1.  The Dukes were able to get their second goal 13:57 into the half to close the gap to 4-2 but could not get closer.

The Huskies' early goals came from Kirby Anderson 5:42 into the match and from Greta Samuelsdottir at the 6:41 mark.  Samuelsdottir scored again at 24:30 for a 3-0 Northeastern lead.

JMU redshirt junior Kelly Germain (McLean, Va./Langley) got the Dukes' first goal, scoring off a cross from senior Ariana Ruela (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) at 29:50.  Redshirt senior Jessica Barndt (Novi, Mich./Novi) also was credited with an assist on the play.

Huskies' senior and CAA preseason Player of the Year Veronica Napoli, who earlier this month became the school's all-time goals and points leader, gave Northeastern goal number four in the 51st minute of play.  Napoli's school-record career totals now stand at 32 goals and 77 points.

JMU's second goal came from freshman Stephanie Hamilton (Coronado, Calif./Coronado), who scored off a pass from Ruela in the 59th minute.

The Dukes out-shot Northeastern 19-11, but Huskies' goalkeeper Paige Burnett came up with six saves.  JMU redshirt freshman goalkeeper Kate Courter (Lincoln Park, N.J./Immaculate Heart) played the first half, but did not make a save.  Dukes' freshman goalkeeper Marlee Stynchula (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson) came into the lineup at halftime and had four stops in the second period.