Hailey Stein Scored What Will Probably Be the Goal of 2016 in Game 1

The JMU women’s soccer team kicked off the school’s 2016 sports season last night with a home game against Arkansas. The Dukes found themselves down 3-1 in the 90th minute, when Steffi Page fired a shot into the goal to bring them within 1. Then just seconds later, JMU earned a free kick from about 45 yards out. Haley Stein stepped up to take it and, well, see above. She dropped a bomb that the goalie got a hand on, but couldn’t stop. And just like that the Dukes had tied the game and forced OT. Stein also set the bar pretty high for “goal of the year” in only the first game.

Unfortunately, JMU’s luck ran out in the second overtime. Arkansas scored to capture the 4-3 win. Tough result for sure, but we’ve got to think the resilience the Dukes showed coming back to force OT is a sign of good things to come. Oh, and Ashley Herndon picked up where she left off last season with an assist. If you’re not watching her, you’re missing it. She’s quietly developed into an absolute superstar for the Dukes.