By Erin Merkel, news correspondent
On Sunday afternoon, the James Madison Dukes and the Huskies matched play styles with non-stop pressure until halftime, when the Huskies switched to possession style and won 2-0 on their home turf at Parson’s Field. Northeastern University are the team to beat, since they claimed another Colonial Athletic Association, or CAA, victory and an undefeated 4-0-0 conference record.
Starting Sunday’s match, there were only two undefeated teams left in the CAA season: NU and JMU.
The Dukes began the game aggressive, leading with nine shots during the first half while the Huskies, taking only three shots, hustled to match their tactics. Northeastern fumbled one on top of the other, making incomplete passes due to the high pressure from JMU.
Fourth-year defender Eve Goulet knew there had to be a change in strategy as the team met for halftime.
“Both teams were imposing their styles of play on each other so I think there was struggle on both parts,” Goulet said. “When we went in at half, we knew if played the way we usually do that it will lead us to be successful.”
Head coach Ashley Phillips changed tactics at the start of the game to strategize against JMU’s direct style, focusing on quick touches, long passes, and shooting. After a scoreless first half, the Huskies went back to their standard style of play: taking control by settling the ball, holding possession and prioritizing passes.
“They play a unique system that we haven’t come up against,” Phillips said. “It took us a little while to change our defensive tactics. We had to settle the ball down and get into our rhythm.”
Fourth-year forward Hannah Rosenblatt crossed a corner kick to Goulet, who shot low into left net and scored the first goal.
“I’ve known her [Rosenblatt] for a long time and I knew that she was gonna try to play back post,” Goulet said. “It was just a matter if I got there or not. I knew if I got it on frame something good might happen. I didn’t want to hit it over. I was like ‘Down! Get the ball down!’”
Less than 15 minutes later, third-year midfielders Kerri Zerfoss and Lizzie George made a passing play up the field to fourth-year forward Nicole Gorman. Gorman sprinted forward to the 10 yard line and sent the ball flying over the goalkeeper’s hands and into the top left net, bumping the score to 2-0.
The Huskies achieved their first 4-0-0 winning streak to start the CAA season since 2014 and their third winning streak of four or more games under Phillips since 2016.
“You don’t play in the conference and have it easy,” Phillips said. “We kind of like that. That’s the fun in it. Every conference game matters and anyone can beat anyone.”
The Huskies (7-6-1 overall, 4-0-0 CAA) face one of their biggest competitors, Hofstra (9-4-0 overall, 3-1-0 CAA), in an away game Oct. 4.
