James Madison women’s soccer drops 4-3 OT thriller to Arkansas
HARRISONBURG, Va. (Via James Madison University) – James Madison women’s soccer scored two goals in the final 55 seconds of regulation to erase Arkansas’ 3-1 lead, but the Razorbacks converted a corner kick in the second minute of the second overtime period to hand the Dukes a 4-3 loss in both teams’ season-opener at University Park on Friday night.
Senior midfielder Lindsey Mayo headed home the game-winner deep into the match after a wild final minute of regulation that saw sophomores Steffi Page and Hailey Stein score their first goals in a JMU uniform, rescuing the Dukes with less than a minute remaining.
Trailing 3-1 with roughly a minute left on the clock, senior defender Jennie Sroba took a free kick from her own half that freshman forward Haley Crawford laid down in Page’s path. Page, who transferred from Stony Brook this offseason, took a touch and buried a shot to cut the deficit in half with 55 seconds left on the clock.
Around 30 seconds later, the Dukes drew a foul 45 yards from the net, pushing nine players into the box. With eight seconds on the clock, Stein drilled a ball into the box that sailed past the crowd and into the net to knot the match at 3-3.
After an uneventful first overtime period, the Razorbacks took advantage of the first real chance of the second as Mayo stepped in front of her defender and headed home the winner from less than six yards out.
Crawford had scored the Dukes’ opening goal in the 13th minute, collecting a cross from senior forward Ashley Herndon, cutting back to her right on her first touch and tucking a shot inside the right post to knot things at 1-1 after an early Arkansas goal.
Sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Miller tallied five saves for the Dukes, while Cameron Carter was only forced to make a single save for Arkansas.
Forward Stefani Doyle scored each of the Razorbacks’ first two goals on the evening, while midfielder Kayla McKeon headed in a corner kick of her own in the 76th minute to put Arkansas up, 3-1. Forward Alexandra Fischer racked up three assists on the evening, including the game-winner.
