Dukes Capture First Sun Belt Title, Top Bobcats 3-2

Saturday, November 9

Foley, Ala.

8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)

James Madison University

12-3-5, 8-0-2

Texas State

12-5-5, 6-1-3

Texas St.

James Madison

11/10/2024 12:13:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

FOLEY, Ala. – An 89th minute goal from senior Shea Collins lifted JMU women's soccer, 3-2, over No. 3 Texas State in the Sun Belt Championship match on Saturday night at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex.

The Dukes moved to 12-3-5 (8-0-2 SBC) while Texas State moved to 12-4-5 (6-1-3 SBC). The victory punches a ticket for the Dukes to the NCAA Tournament, their second in as many seasons.

Collins paced the JMU attack, securing her first career brace along with one assist. The Dukes exploded out the gate, taking a 1-0 lead by the fifth minute from Collins, followed by a score from classmate Sophia Verrecchia in the 13th minute. Ginny Lackey provided two assists and led the team in shots with four.

Redshirt freshman Sofia DeCerb made her twentieth start in goal, playing all 90 minutes and making three key saves. JMU outshot the Bobcats 13-6, the ninth straight match that the Dukes have outshot their opponent.

Quoting Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.
"We did it! So proud of the girls and their resiliency. We never quit and made history!!"

How it Happened

The Bobcats pressured early, drawing a corner in second minute.
Collins' goal came in transition, off beautiful passes from Jamie Swartz and Lackey to get an early 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.
Soon after, Jordan Yang began another sequence in transition to find Collins who passed to Verrecchia in the box to double the lead, 2-0.
Texas State drew a penalty kick in the 22nd minute, which Mya Ulloa got past DeCerb for the Bobcat's first goal.
Ellie Farrell took the next shot on goal in the 35th minute that was saved, and the Dukes went into the half up 2-1.
Texas State equalized in the 55th minute on a breakaway from Zoe Junior.
Verrecchia attempted a shot that went just wide in the 64th minute as JMU searched for the lead again.
Staring down another breakaway, DeCerb made a save in 70th minute to keep game tied.
After several chances down the stretch, Lackey found Collins sneaking down the sideline, and ripped the game-winner past the keeper in the 89th minute.
As the Bobcats rushed to find another equalizer, DeCerb punched a point-blank shot into the air as time winded down in the 90th minute, pushing the Dukes over the finish line for the title.

Quick Facts

JMU is the first top seed to win the Sun Belt Championship since 2020.
The conference championship is the first for JMU since 2015, and the first time in program history the Dukes have won both the regular season title and tournament in the same season.
The Dukes are undefeated this season when they score first and are leading at the half.

Up Next
JMU awaits its first-round opponent in the NCAA Tournament, and will find out during the Selection Show on Monday, November 11th at 4 p.m., which can be streamed on NCAA.com.