Sept. 14, 2012

Box Score | Rullan's Goal

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Freshman Lizzy Rullan (East Setauket, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute as Navy (8-1) rallied to defeat James Madison (2-5), 3-2, for its eighth straight victory Friday evening at Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.

Navy fell behind, 2-1, but received back-to-back goals in a two-minute span from sophomore forward Caprice Kelty (Odenton, Md.) and Rullan to earn the hard-fought victory.

"It was a fantastic win against a quality team," head coach Carin Gabarra said. "James Madison is an excellent opponent. They know how to attack and they are very athletic. But we had a lot of passion and a lot of intensity tonight and we put some things together that are definitely going to help us when we get to conference play."

The win marked the third of the season against schools from the Colonial Athletic Association for Navy and the team earns its first win in four attempts against James Madison.

James Madison opened the night's scoring in the 24th minute on a goal from Lauren Wilson from 15 yards out.

The Mids would answer eight minutes later on sophomore forward Morgan Dankanich's (Glenmoore, Pa.) team-leading sixth goal of the season. Sophomore midfielder Rachel Hunter (Raleigh, N.C.) sent junior forward Paloma Perez (Mobile, Ala.) down the right side and Perez got space on her defender and made a cross to the far post where Dankanich was waiting to knock it in.

Perez leads the team with six assists.

James Madison took a 2-1 lead with just three-and-a-half minutes remaining before halftime. Wilson made a long run on a counterattack, drew in the Navy defense and passed to Katie Hyland who struck for the goal.

The game would remain at 2-1 until the 70th minute when freshman midfielder Kaylie Davidson (Oceanside, Calif.) made a run through the JMU defense and fired on goal. Her initial shot was saved by James Madison goalkeeper Ellen Forrest, but the keeper was unable to control the rebound and Kelty came in to finish off the scoring chance.

Just 1:42 later, Navy earned a corner kick to set up the go-ahead goal. Sophomore defender Julie Schumacher (Plantation, Fla.) served the corner kick into the box from the right side to Kelty who touched it towards the goal line where Rullan, with her back to the net, made an incredible play by flicking the ball backwards with her heel past Forrest and into the goal.

The Mids had a number of other scoring chances throughout the game, including in the 13th minute when a Dankanich header found the back of the net, but was called off as she was whistled for being just offsides.

In the 15th minute, junior forward Ashlynn Soellner (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) had a header saved by Forrest and later in the game, senior midfielder Brittany Fruin (McLean, Va.) redirected a cross right on target but the keeper made a diving save.

Junior Elizabeth Hoerner made six saves to earn her eighth win of the year in goal. Hoerner jumped to flick a high shot just over the cross bar and out of play in the 85th minute to preserve the Navy lead.

James Madison held a 19-12 advantage on overall shots, but shots on goal were even at 8-8.

Navy will next host VMI on Sunday at 2:00 pm as the team goes for a ninth-straight victory.