HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison found itself in a two-goal hole against Maryland on Sunday afternoon, but goals by Sophia Verrecchia and Amanda Attanasi late in the second half earned the Dukes a 2-2 draw in non-conference women’s soccer action at Sentara Park.

The Dukes moved to 2-1-1, while the Terrapins remained winless with an 0-1-3 mark on the young season. JMU is now 2-0-2 in its last four meetings against the Terps.

Maryland took a 2-0 lead off the foot of Lisa McIntyre, who scored twice, but the Dukes drew even with goals just 2:25 apart. Verrecchia converted on a penalty kick for her first goal of the season, and Attanasi squared the match off a deflection for her second of the year and 14th of her career.

Alexandra Blom made four saves for the Dukes, while Liz Beardsley made a pair of stops for the Terrapins.

Maryland dominated possession, out-shooting JMU 15-8, which including 6-4 in shots on goal. That included a 6-0 lead in the first half (3-0 SOG). UM also had a 5-3 advantage on corner kicks.

How It Happened
• Maryland opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Peyton Bernard’s pass got behind the JMU defense, and McIntyre finished in the bottom left of the goal after slipping past a surging Blom.
• Blom kept it a one-goal game in the 53rd minute, making a diving stop off the shot from distance by Madison Krakower.
• The Terrapins struck again in the 64th minute to the double the lead. On a 50-50 play, McIntyre scored off a deflection from the keeper.
• JMU had a pair of scoring opportunities, but Beardsley made a save in the 68th minute and JMU’s Lexi Vanderlinden just missed the mark on her attempt in the 74th minute.
• Those chances sparked JMU’s offense, as it would tie the game with consecutive goals minutes later.
• The Dukes broke through in the 80th minute on a penalty-kick score from Verrecchia, the sixth goal of her career.
• Moments later, JMU capitalized on a counter, as Attanasi went bottom right after taking possession off a defection from a cross in the box to knot the game at 2-2.
• Maryland had one last shot, but Bernard’s strike from the right side from saved by Blom with eight ticks to play.

Quoting Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.
“Not our best but love the fight in this team. Credit to Maryland for their game plan. They are a good team that has been unlucky this fall. Now we move to our trip out to California.”

Up Next
JMU heads to California for a pair of non-conference matchups next weekend. The Dukes begin the trip in Moraga, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 31 when they face Saint Mary’s at 7 p.m. ET. They close the road trip Sunday, Sept. 3 at Santa Clara in a 4 p.m. ET start. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.

— JMU Athletics —