TOWSON, Md. - The Towson women's soccer team hosts James Madison (5-4) on Friday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. at the Tiger Soccer Complex to begin both program's 2014 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) season.
The Dukes lead the all-time series 12-0. There have been three overtime games in the series (2003, 2009, 2011) and nine of the games have been one-goal decisions. JMU has outscored Towson (3-4-2) 27-7 in the series.
Last season,
Emily Banes became Towson's all-time points leader with her equalizing goal in a 2-1 double overtime loss to James Madison on Oct. 13, 2013. The Dukes took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute when Becky Sparks converted on a corner kick sent in by Kelly Kerrigan. JMU held that lead until Banes scored unassisted at 75:55 to draw the Tigers level with the Dukes, 1-1. The teams required two overtimes before JMU claimed the win on a Towson own goal (101:30).
James Madison split its games last weekend, defeating Appalachian State 2-1 on Sept. 19 before falling, 1-0, to UNC Greensboro. The Dukes and their opponents are nearly even in goals (JMU 10, Opp 11), but James Madison is out-shooting opponents 59-36. Ashley Herndon leads JMU in points and assists (2g, 5a, 9p), while Sydney Braun-McLeod is the team's goal-scoring leader with three. Ellen Forrest is the Dukes' goalkeeper of record, starting all nine matches and allowing nine goals for a goals-against average of 1.14. She has made 25 saves and has a 4-3 record.
Towson comes into Friday's contest off a double-overtime scoreless draw at Villanova on Sept. 19. Despite the Tigers earning 15 corner kicks, the Wildcats out-shot Towson, 17-11. Senior
Katie Ponce, sophomore
Natalia Pinkney and freshman
Gabby Scirica each have two goals to lead the Tigers. Pinkney's two assists give her a team-best six points. Senior goalkeeper
Erin Quinn earned her fourth shutout of the season at Villanova. She has a GAA of 0.97 and has made 41 saves on the season. With her nine saves on Sept. 19, she moved into fourth place all-time at Towson with 261.
Next weekend, the Tigers travel to Northeastern on Friday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. and Hofstra on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.
