ATLANTA (JMU Athletics) – A pair of first-half goals allowed the Dukes to clinch a spot in the Sun Belt Championship as James Madison women’s soccer knocked off Georgia State, 2-0, at the GSU Soccer Complex on Friday evening.
JMU improves to 8-4-5 on the year (4-2-3 SBC), and the Panthers move to 9-6-2 (5-3-1 SBC). Freshman Selma Rajakangas and sophomore Ginny Lackey were the goal scorers for JMU, their respective first and 11th of the season. Olivia Del Toro tallied her second assist of the season on Lackey’s score.
Sofia DeCerb got the start at goalkeeper, playing the full 90 minutes between the posts. The redshirt sophomore corralled three saves en route to her third clean sheet of the season.
Quote from Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.
“Great, gritty win on the road against a quality Georgia State team. Proud of the team’s fight and ability to adapt as the game changed. We created some dangerous chances tonight.”
How it Happened
• The Panthers’ first shot attempt in the fourth minute was blocked.
• After a shot from Jordan Yang was blocked, Rajakangas fired an attempt off the rebound that sailed past the keeper and put the Dukes in front, 1-0, in the sixth minute.
• After not putting up a shot for nearly 25 minutes, JMU doubled its lead with a header from Lackey in the 30th minute.
• Georgia State placed its first shot on goal in the 36th minute; however, the effort was saved by DeCerb.
• James Madison delivered a pair of shots in the 50th minute; however, both traveled off target.
• The Panthers were held without a shot for the final 18 minutes of the match as the Dukes held on to secure the result.
Quick Facts
• After clinching tonight, the Dukes will have made an appearance in the Sun Belt Championship every year since joining the conference in 2022.
• The Dukes have won six of their last seven against Georgia State.
• Rajakangas’s goal was the first of her collegiate career.
Up Next
The Dukes will close out their regular season schedule on the road with a clash at Texas State on Wednesday, October 29th. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET
— JMU Athletics —
