Dukes Drop Road Affair at Virginia Tech

Thursday, August 24

Blacksburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

2-1-0, 0-0-0

Virginia Tech

2-0-1, 0-0-0

James Madison

Virginia Tech

8/24/2023 9:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech held James Madison to just four shots on goal as the Hokies blanked the Dukes, 3-0, on Thursday night at Thompson Field.

JMU sits at 2-1 in the young season, while VT improves to 2-0-1.

Redshirt senior goalkeeper Alexandra Blom denied seven shots in the match, while junior Amanda Attanasi placed a pair of shots on goal.

After the seal broke in the opening minutes, the Dukes kept Virginia Tech at bay for 53 minutes, however, the Hokies scored twice in the final 30 minutes for the 3-0 victory. VT goalkeeper Alia Skinner made four saves in the shutout to pick up her second win of the season.

How It Happened

The Hokies struck first in the seventh minute as Sophie Maltese connected with Taylor Bryan in the box, who found the bottom left of the goal.
Redshirt senior Suwaibatu Mohammed nearly scored the equalizer, sending a shot just over the net off a cross minutes later.
Blom turned away five shots in the first half. Coming into the game, she made two saves in 180 minutes this season.
Virginia Tech earned three corners in the first four minutes of the second half but was denied by the Dukes each time.
After thwarting the Hokies for the remainder of the first half, the Dukes committed a foul in the box in the 60th minute, leading Virginia Tech's Natalie Mitchell to convert on the penalty kick to make it a 2-0 game.
VT took advantage of a breakaway, scoring in the 78th minute as Blom came off her line to challenge.

Quick Facts

James Madison still leads the all-time series 12-8-1 but has lost the last seven contests against Virginia Tech.
The shutout marked the first time the Dukes had been held scoreless since falling to Georgia Southern 1-0 on Oct. 23, 2022.
The Hokies recorded 20 shots compared to the Duke's six. Additionally, VT earned 10 corners, while JMU had just two.
Blom's seven saves were the most for the redshirt senior since making seven stops last season versus Oregon State (September 11).

Quoting Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.
"This one is on me as a head coach. We weren't ready to play and looked reactionary. We will use this experience to get ready for Maryland back at home Sunday."

Up Next
The Dukes return to Sentara Park to host Maryland on Sunday, Aug. 27. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.