Bortell's Overtime Winner Lifts Dukes Over Elon

Friday, October 23

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

11-6-1 (5-2-1CAA)

Elon

9-6-2 (1-5-1CAA)

OT 2

ELON

James Madison

10/23/2015 9:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Redshirt sophomore midfielder Allison Bortell's header with six seconds left in the first overtime lifted the James Madison women's soccer team over Elon 1-0 in a Colonial Athletic Association match on Friday night at University Park. The Dukes clinched a berth in next month's six-team CAA tournament.

As time ticked off the clock in the first 10-minute overtime period, the Dukes (11-6-1, 5-2-1 CAA) regained possession in the midfield. Junior defender Jennie Sroba took a dribble forward and sent a long pass over the top and into the 18-yard box, where Bortell rose up and headed the ball over the Elon (9-6-2, 1-5-1 CAA) goalkeeper for the 100th minute game-winner.

Although possession remained mostly even throughout the contest, the Dukes held a 24-14 advantage in shots. The Phoenix forced six saves from redshirt senior goalkeeper Ellen Forrest while earning 10 corner kick opportunities compared to JMU's six.

Both teams earned chances to take the lead just before halftime, but neither team saw net. A long strike by senior midfielder Rachel Ivey rang off the post in the 42nd minute before Elon's Tori Baliatico got behind the JMU defense and took a right-footed shot that was saved in the 45th.

The Dukes have one regular-season test remaining in the form of William and Mary, who comes to Harrisonburg for a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday, October 25.

WHAT IT MEANS
With the win, the Dukes move into a tie for third place in the CAA with UNCW (12-5-1, 5-2-1 CAA). A third- or fourth-place finish will allow James Madison to host a quarterfinal game against the fifth or sixth seed, but a higher seed is still in play with one game to go.

HIGHLIGHTS

TWEET OF THE GAME

GAME WINNER @akbortell @JMUWSoccer pic.twitter.com/jl1sBm8x4J
— Shannon Rano (@ShanRans25) October 24, 2015

COACH'S QUOTE
"Elon is well coached, they're a really scrappy team and those kids fought hard," said head coach David Lombardo. "Now, William and Mary is our longest and biggest rivalry and the team will be up and ready to play on Sunday."

LOOKING AHEAD
Marking a storied rivalry that goes back to 1990 when the JMU women's soccer program was founded, James Madison and William and Mary will go head-to-head for the 33rd time. The Tribe holds the all-time series lead at 18-12-2; however, the Dukes won the most recent matchup, a 1-0 victory in Harrisonburg last season. William and Mary are riding a six-game win streak to University Park on Sunday.