Dukes bounce back with shutout win over Colonials
JMU earns first home victory, improves to 3-4
By Jennifer Chapman, contributing writer
Posted on September 18, 2006

Only days after being shut out at the hands of Wake Forest, the JMU women’s soccer team bounced back by dishing out their own shutout, 3-0 to the visiting George Washington Colonials.

The Dukes outshot the Colonials 17-7.

“Our athleticism and speed really gave them problems,” JMU coach Dave Lombardo said. “It was great play from our forwards Sarah Cebulski, Annie Lowry and Natalie Ewell.”

Cebulski, a senior forward, struck first in the 18th minute off a feed from freshman Jess Remmes.

“We came back from our loss on Sunday to play like a team and get the win tonight,” Cebulski said.

A little over a minute into the second half, Lowry celebrated her 21st birthday with her first goal of the season. Lowry took a pass from Ewell to set up her shot at the top of the box.

The birthday girl celebrated in style for the Dukes with a goal and assist. Last season Lowry had seven goals before tearing her ACL in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.

Madison also got a goal and assist from freshman forward Corky Julien.

The goal came with 24 minutes remaining on a play started by Lowry. Lowry sent the ball to Ewell on the right side, who crossed it in front of the goal where Julien sent it past GW keeper Amie Kern.

“For the first time we showed how we really play,” Lowry said. “We finally put it together and got our first shutout.”

Freshman goalkeeper Diane Wszalek earned the shutout, making five saves on the evening.

JMU senior midfielder Natalie Ewell also had two assists on the day.

Forward Meg Pyle, who had four shots, led the Colonials. The Dukes (3-4) were able to keep her off the scoreboard though on the way to picking up their third win of the year.

“This game was a good confidence builder,” Lombardo said. “We’ve won three out of the last four games, and with key people out to injuries, I think they are beginning to understand that they can still play well.”

Injuries have plagued the very young team. Key starters including senior defenders Lyanne Dupra and Shannon Seipp have been sidelined with possible season-ending injuries. The two are trying to come back for the Colonial Athletic Association conference tournament at the end of October.

“We still need to work on possession,” Lombardo said. “We turned the ball over way too much and had too many unforced errors. We are hoping to close out our non-conference play at a .500 average and head into the conference ready to win it.”

JMU opens conference play at Georgia State and the UNC-Wilmington next Friday and Sunday, respectively, before returning home to host Drexel and Delaware on Sept. 29 and Oct 1.