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Northeastern defeats James Madison women, 2-1, in CAA Semifinal round

7 Nov, 2008

Senior Jenna Lucchesi’s goal with just 7:45 remaining gave sixth-seeded Northeastern a 2-1 victory over #2 James Madison in the semifinals of the CAA Women’s Soccer Championship Friday night at Albert-Daly Field.

The win sends Northeastern (12-8-1) into Sunday’s CAA championship game against the winner of Friday’s second semifinal between #1 William & Mary and #5 Hofstra. JMU dropped to 12-6-2 and will await a possible at-large selection into next week’s NCAA Tournament.

It will be the Huskies’ first trip to the CAA title game in just their third year in the conference. They are the second #6 seed in the past three years to reach the finals.

With the match tied at 1-1, Northeastern freshman Erin McGaffigan fired a perfect pass into the middle of the box to a crossing Lucchesi, who beat JMU goalkeeper Diane Wszalek to the right side from 10 yards out for the game-winner. The victory was the fourth straight for Northeastern, all of which have come on the road.

JMU out-shot the Huskies 10-3 in the first half, but wasn’t able to get on the board until the 40th minute. The Dukes’ Jess Remmes was taken down in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Senior midfielder Kim Germain sent a hard shot just inside the left post past diving NU goalkeeper Stephanie Gordon to give JMU a 1-0 lead. The goal was the second of the season for Germain.

Northeastern drew even at 1-1 in the 59th minute. Freshman Kelly Matthews drilled a shot from the middle of the box that was blocked by Wszalek. The rebound came out to freshman Gabbi Jatkola, who sent a 10-yard shot into the right side of the net for her sixth goal of the year.

JMU finished with a 20-9 shot advantage, but the Huskies put eight of their shots on goal. Gordon and Wszalek each made six saves in the contest.

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