Liberty Falls at No. 11 JMU, Wednesday Evening

Liberty fell 22-3 at No. 11 James Madison, Wednesday evening at Sentara Park.

JMU improves to 10-4 on the season and has won its last seven games. Meanwhile, Liberty slips to 8-6 this year and sees a two-game winning streak halted.

Scoring Summary

Liberty Goals: Brooke Bryan, 1 Mackenzie Lehman 1, Cami Merkel 1

Liberty Assists: Jordan Baerga 1

James Madison Goals: Isabella Peterson 5, Kacey Knobloch 2, Tai Jankowski 2, Lizzy Fox 2, Taylor Marchetti 2, Emma Greenhill 2, Olivia Mattis 2, Katie Checkosky 1, Brittany Bill 1, Katelyn Morgan 1, Maggie Clark 1, Lilly Boswell 1

James Madison Assists: Katie Checkosky 3, Tai Jankowski 2, Kacey Knobloch 2, Brittany Bill 1, Lizzy Fox 1, Isabella Peterson 1

Goalkeepers

W: Molly Dougherty 10-4, four saves

L: Jennifer Soriero 8-5, three saves

Turning Point

JMU had its best quarter of the season to open the game. The Dukes led 9-0 after seven different scorers found the back of the cage, led by two goals apiece from Isabella Peterson and Tai Jankowski.

Liberty’s first goal of the day came from Brooke Bryan at the 10:28 mark of the second quarter, cutting the JMU deficit to 9-1. However, the hosts closed the quarter on a 5-1 run to push the lead to 14-2 at the break. 

First Half Summary

• JMU dominated possession in the opening stanza, winning 14 of the 17 draw controls. Peterson collected six of the Dukes’ 14 draws in the first two quarters.

• The Dukes outshot the Lady Flames 21-9 in the first half and converted 3-of-4 free-position opportunities.

Second Half Summary

• Liberty’s Sheive scooped up all three of her ground balls after the break, matching a career high. The sophomore has six career three-ground ball games.

• Liberty freshman goalkeeper Taylor Gallarello came on in relief in the second half and made two early saves, her second and third career saves. Prior to Wednesday, Gallarello’s only other game action this season came when she played the fourth quarter of the Lady Flames’ 22-5 win over Delaware State in the ASUN opener, April 2.

• Dukes goalkeeper Kat Buchanan made six saves in 24:16 of action in the second half while surrendering only one goal.

Key Stats & Notes

• James Madison outshot Liberty 35-19 and held a 21-7 advantage in draw controls. The Dukes’ Peterson led all players with eight draws, while Lizzy Ferguson paced the Lady Flames in draws with three.

• Liberty held edges in ground balls (10-9), caused turnovers (6-4) and clear percentage (.917-.867). Sophomore attacker Jordan Sheive paced the visitors with three ground balls.

• Two of Liberty’s three goals were on free-position shots (Lehman and Merkel). Lehman’s was her team-leading 32nd of the season, and Merkel’s marker was her 21st of the season to lead all freshmen on the team.

• This is the most goals the Lady Flames have allowed this season and most since also giving up 22 at No. 9 Jacksonville on April 25, 2021. Liberty came into the contest allowing 10.77 goals per game to rank No. 27 in the nation in the category.

• JMU bolsters its record to 3-0 all-time against Liberty.

Up Next

• Liberty will return to ASUN play when it faces Coastal Carolina (5-8, 1-1 ASUN) in a road game, Saturday. Game time is noon at Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C.

• The Lady Flames are 6-3 all-time versus the Chanticleers. Liberty and Coastal Carolina last met on April 10, 2021 in Lynchburg, a 14-13 Lady Flames triumph. Midfielder Olivia Glaze scored the game-winning goal with 1:23 remaining, and goalkeeper Jennifer Soriero preserved the victory with a save of a free-position with three seconds left in the contest.