STATESBORO - First place James Madison broke open a scoreless match at the half with three second-half goals to defeat Georgia Southern, 3-1, in Sun Belt Conference women's soccer action on Sunday afternoon during the Eagles' annual Kick Cancer game at Bo Pitts Field.

The Dukes (7-3-3, 5-0-1 SBC) remained unbeaten in their last seven matches, while Georgia Southern (5-9-1, 2-4 SBC) dropped its third match out of its last four. The Eagles return to action on Friday, hosting South Alabama in a 5 p.m. Sun Belt Conference contest at Bo Pitts Field.

The first half between the two teams was a tight defensive affair as neither team could find the back of the net. JMU held a 5-2 edge in shots at the break.

The Dukes got on the board in the 55th minute as a throughball from Jordan Yang found Ariana Reyes on the right side of the box. Reyes crossed into the box where SBC-leading goalscorer Ginny Lackey headed the ball home for her ninth tally of the year.

The Eagles pulled back even thanks to a brilliant run from senior Smith Cathey. Freshman Libby Wooffindin found a sprinting Cathey free at midfield, and Cathey dribbled to the left side of the box, where she finished inside the far post for her sixth goal of the season.

James Madison then clinched the match with two goals in a six-minute span from Lexi Vanderlinden. In the 71st minute, Yang found Vanderlinden inside the box from the left side and she poked it home for her first goal of the year. In the 77th minute, it was Shea Collins finding Vanderlinden in the box and her shot rocketed into the upper netting for the final 3-1 margin.

The Dukes finished the match with a 17-7 edge in shots, including a 12-5 margin in the second half. Quinn Wilson made a season-best six saves in net for the Eagles, while Sofia DeCerb made one save for the Dukes. Georgia Southern held an 8-6 edge in corner kicks and the Eagles were whistled for 11 fouls on the day. James Madison was whistled for eight fouls and two offsides.