The Basics

• Score: JMU 2, VCU 0
• Records: VCU (1-3-0), JMU (2-2-0)
• Location: SportsBackers Stadium – Richmond, Va.
• The Short Story: The VCU women's soccer team dropped a tough 2-0 decision to in-state foe James Madison on a beautiful Sunday night in the Capital City.

• The first 10 minutes of the game was a possession battle before sophomore Megan Dell dribbled through traffic, but was turned away by the JMU defense.
• Freshman Nicole Malancone was a first half spark for the Rams, creating two scoring opportunities, but both were turned away as the score remained 0-0.
• Senior Sharon Wojcik nearly put VCU on the board in the 30^th minute, gathering a loose ball and blasting a shot from just outside the box, but JMU's keeper made a diving save to keep it a scoreless contest.
• JMU would turn up the pressure in the final 10 minutes of the first half, but senior Emma Kruse and the VCU defense was able to stifle any scoring chance for the Dukes.
• The Dukes wasted little time coming out of the break, scoring less than a minute into the second half to grab a 1-0 lead.
• Freshman Julia Suarez nearly responded right back, blasting a shot from close range, but it was turned away.
• In the 54^th minute, Kelly Graves blasted a shot from the left side of the box, but it went just wide as JMU held on to its 1-0 advantage.
• Just two minutes later, Graves took a beautiful feed from Wojcik and put it in the back of the net, but an offsides call from the far sideline wiped out the goal.
• Some great footwork from Graves and classmate Maddi Santo nearly led to the equalizer in the 63^rd minute as Santo's pass led Graves down the left side and some maneuvering gave Graves a shot from 15 yards out, but it was knocked down.
• After Graves nearly tied it again in the 71^st minute, JMU was able to extend their lead to 2-0 when Brittany Borum found the back of the net in the 75^th minute.
• Suarez nearly cut the deficit in half with less than 10 minutes to play, but her shot was knocked just high by the JMU keeper.

• The Rams are back at home next weekend when they host ninth-ranked Virginia Tech on Sunday, Sept. 6. Game time is set for 7 p.m.