JMU keeps postseason hopes alive with victory over VCU

Carolyn Walser / senior photographer Sophomore forward Sarah Cebulski fights for the ball during JMU's 2-1 win over Old Dominion University Friday night.

The JMU women’s soccer team defeated Virginia Commonwealth University 2-1 Friday night at the JMU Soccer Complex, overmatching a VCU team ranked first in the Colonial Athletic Association.

JMU returned home with a win to open a four-game home stand after completing a six-game road trip, improving their record to 7-6-3. The Dukes were led by a goal apiece from sophomore defender Shannon Seipp and sophomore forward/midfielder Natalie Ewell. Sophomore forward Sarah Cebulski and freshman midfielder Annie Lowry picked up assists on the score.

"We put a lot of pressure on them in the first half and we had a lot of opportunities for shots," Seipp said. "And the [first] goal just came on a corner kick from being in the right place, right time; I just hit it and — luckily — it went in.

"We were putting a lot pressure on them and keeping the ball, being composed."

JMU led 1-0 after the first half, making the most of an opportunity to score on a corner kick with Seipp’s goal at 31:51.

JMU and VCU both had four shots on goal to end the first half, with JMU junior goalkeeper Jessica Hussey recording four saves to VCU’s two.

"Everyone was putting in the extra second, third and fourth effort," Cebulski said. "There was a lot of sliding; obviously, it was easier to slide because it was wet, but still, the extra sliding to the ball really helped out."

Seipp also attributed the win — and JMU’s play — to their extra effort.

"Everyone stepped up their game and there was a lot of communication," she said. "Everyone was keeping each other up."

The Dukes built on their lead early in the second half, scoring at the 53:13 mark, on Ewell’s goal assisted by Cebulski and Lowry.

JMU’s defense kept VCU off the board until 82:26 when VCU Kasey Sanvig scored on an assist from Leigh Anthony.

Coach Dave Lombardo praised the play of junior midfielder Emily Baskin and defender Bryant Karpinski on defending VCU’s players.

"Bryant Karpinski was awesome," Lombardo said. "She just would not let [VCU’s Solfrid Anderson] turn, and, from a defensive standpoint, did what we asked her to do."

While the game statistics for JMU and VCU were similar — with JMU’s six shots on goal to VCU’s seven — JMU capitalized on chances at net in both the first and second half.

"We had two timely and great goals," Lombardo said. "[Cebulski] busted her tail and Annie Lowry did a lot of the work to get that ball in, played Sarah in and then that game-winner was just picture perfect."

Lombardo added, "That’s what this team is all about. We don’t have any superstars, but we’ve got kids that work hard and play for each other, and that’s what we needed."

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