JMU Men's Soccer Weekly Notes

This Week:
JMU at George Mason
When: Saturday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.

Scouting George Mason:
Record:  9-4-0, 2-3-0 CAA (entering Oct. 16 at Towson)

Freshmen & Firsts at UNCW:  Freshmen were the keys to JMU's Oct. 10 double-overtime win at UNCW as Eric Schmidt scored his first career JMU goal (JMU's first goal of the game) and goalkeeper Kyle Morton, in his first career game appearance, finished with nine saves.
     Another first came from sophomore Nick Njuki, whose game-winning score was his first college goal.

McLaughlin Moves Up on Assist List:  Redshirt senior Christian McLaughlin recorded his 18th career assist Oct. 14 vs. Delaware.  He moved from tied for 19th place to tied for 18th place on JMU's career list.  McLaughlin shares 18th place with Scott Davis (1988-91).

First Road Win:  JMU's 2-1 double-overtime victory at UNCW on Oct. 10 marked the Dukes their first win away from home this season.  .

National Rankings:  Six JMU opponents (North Carolina, Old Dominion, Georgetown, SIU Edwardsville, George Mason, Northeastern) are ranked or are receiving votes in the latest national polls (NSCAA, Soccer America, College Soccer News). 

JMU Men Tie Deleware, 1-1

HARRISONBURG, Va., Oct. 14, 2012 -- The James Madison and Delaware men's soccer teams battled through two overtimes to a 1-1 draw in Colonial Athletic Association play Sunday afternoon at University Park.

JMU's overall record now stands at 5-5-3, and the Dukes have a 3-1-2 record in league play.  Defending CAA champion Delaware's records are now 3-8-3 overall and 1-2-2 in CAA competition.

The Dukes got on the scoreboard first, on a header freshman Tom Fouhy (Buckinghamshire, England/Dr. Challoner's) off a corner kick by redshirt senior Christian McLaughlin (Herndon, Va./Herndon) just 4:50 into the second half.

Delaware got the equalizer with 15:19 to play.  Sophomore Kyle Nuel (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton) sent a cross from the left side of the box to the right to junior Mark Garrity (Newton, Mass./Newton South).  Garrity one-timed a shot just inside the right corner of the goal from inside the 6-yard box.

Blue Hens sophomore goalkeeper Jay Lupas (McLean, Va./Langley) made several crucial saves in overtime to preserve the tie.  Just 2:22 into the first 10-minute overtime, a lofted ball by Fouhy from just outside the 18 was deflected toward the goal by a Delaware defender, but Lupas managed to tip the ball over the cross bar.

With 47 seconds to play in the second overtime, Lupas made a diving save on a shot from just outside the 18 by redshirt sophomore Steven Mashinski (Fairfax, Va./Chantilly).

Game Statistics Summary:
Shots:  JMU 17, Delaware 16
Saves:  JMU, Kyle Morton 4 (110:00); Delaware, Jay Lupas 6 (110:00)
Corner kicks:  JMU 16, Delaware 5
Scoring: 
JMU - Tom Fouhy (Christian McLaughlin), 49:50
UD - Mark Garrity (Kyle Nuel), (74:41)

James Madison Men's Soccer Notes, Oct. 9

This Week:JMU at North Carolina WilmingtonWhen: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m.
Delaware at JMU
When:  Sunday, Oct. 14, 2 p.m.

Scouting UNCW: 
Record:  5-6-1, 2-2-0 CAA
CAA Wins:  at home over Hofstra (3-2), at William and Mary (3-0)
CAA Losses:  at George Mason (2-0), at Drexel (2-0).
Preseason Conference Coaches Poll:  Picked tied for 8th
Of Note:  The Seahawks won the CAA title in 2009.

The Series with UNCW:  JMU leads the series 23-9-2, but the Seahawks have won four of the last five meetings.  Three of those four victories came on UNCW's home field.  
Scouting Delaware: 
Record:  3-7-2, 1-1-1 CAA (entering Oct. 10 at Northeastern)
CAA Wins:  at Georgia State (3-2)
CAA Losses:  at home to Towson (2-3)
CAA Ties:  at home vs. ODU (0-2, 0 OT)
Preseason Conference Coaches Poll:  Picked 3rd
Of Note:  The Blue Hens won last year's CAA championship and upset Virginia in an NCAA first-round game.

The Series with Delaware: JMU leads the series 11-3-3, but the last two meetings have gone to overtime. 

ODU Was Third Ranked Opponent:  JMU faced its third Top-25 opponent in a six-game span when the Dukes battled #12/11 Old Dominion to a scoreless overtime tie on Oct. 4.  The Dukes' record against ranked teams is 1-1-1.

Upset of UNC Ranks #1 in Fan Vote:  JMU's Sept. 11 win over defending NCAA champion North Carolina currently ranks as the top upset of the year in online voting at TopDrawerSoccer.com.

Newcity Records Career-High Saves vs. ODU:   Dukes redshirt junior goalkeeper Colin Newcity turned away a career-high nine shots in JMU's scoreless overtime tie at #12/11 (Soccer America/NSCAA) Old Dominion on Oct. 3.

Road Swing:  The Dukes conclude a stretch of three consecutive road games Oct. 10 at UNCW.  JMU is 0-4-1 away from home this season, including 0-2-1 on its opponents' home fields and 0-2-0 in neutral-site games.

JMU Soccer Weekly Notes

This Week:
JMU at Old Dominion
When: Wednesday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m.

JMU at Northeastern
When: Saturday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m.

Scouting Old Dominion:  The Monarchs bring a 7-1-0 overall record, a 1-1-0 CAA record, a 13-game (12-0-1) home unbeaten streak and a Top 25 national ranking into Wednesday's game vs. JMU.  ODU was ranked 12th by Soccer America and 14th in the NSCAA coaches poll last week.
     The Monarchs' last defeat at home?  By JMU, in a 2-0 Dukes' win on Oct. 27, 2010.  ODU has a 15-1-2 home record over its last 18 matches.

Scouting Northeastern:  The Huskies take a 5-1-2 overall record, a four-game (2-0-2) unbeaten streak and an 0-0-1 CAA record into an Oct. 3 league match at Drexel.

The Series with Northeastern: JMU leads the series 5-2-2 but has never beaten the Huskies on their home field (0-2-1). 

ODU is Third Ranked Opponent:  JMU will face its third Top-25 opponent in its last six games when the Dukes play at Old Dominion on Oct. 4. 

On the Road:  The Dukes play their next three games on the road.  JMU is 0-3 away from home this season, including 0-1 on its opponents' home field and 0-2 in neutral-site games.

Wyatt Honored:  Senior forward Paul Wyatt has been selected College Sports Madness CAA Player of the Week.  .

Wyatt Now #16 on Goals List: Paul Wyatt, who scored two goals Sept. 29 vs. Towson, now has 24 career goals. 

Former Duke Zimmerman MVP of NASL Team:  Former JMU player Nick Zimmerman (2005-08) has been selected the Most Valuable Player and offensive MVP for the Carolina RailHawks of the North American Soccer League.

JMU Women Fall to Northeastern, 2-0

HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 27, 2012 -- Northeastern scored two breakaway goals in the first half and beat James Madison 2-0 in Colonial Athletic Association women's soccer Thursday evening at University Park.

courtesy JMU Athletics Photography

The Huskies (4-7-0, 2-1-0) won for the third time in their last four starts, while JMU (3-8-0, 1-2-0) dropped its second game in a row.

Northeastern got an early lead as the Huskies scored on their first shot in the opening minutes of the match.  Senior Sandra Magnusdottir (Reykjavik, Iceland/Verslunarskoli Islands) delivered a pass from behind the midfield line to redshirt sophomore Hannah O’Donnell (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park).  O'Donnell raced ahead of the JMU defense and took control of the ball about 25 yards from the goal.  She dribbled into the box and sent a 16-yard shot past redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Kate Courter (Lincoln Park, N.J./Immaculate Heart) and into the right corner of the goal.

Just before halftime the Huskies scored a second goal in a similar fashion.  This time junior Hanna Terry (Park City, Utah/Park City) sent a ball from behind the midfield stripe to redshirt sophomore Devin Griffin (Whitman, Mass./Whitman-Hanson).  Griffin controlled the ball a few yards outside the box, ahead of JMU's defenders, dribbled into the box and slipped a low shot into the right corner of the goal from 16 yards.

The Dukes had several quality scoring opportunities but Northeastern sophomore goalkeeper Paige Burnett (Placentia, Calif./Cypress) denied JMU five times to get her third shutout of the year.

Game Highlights

First Half:
* NU - Sandra Magnusdottir sends a ball from behind the midfield line to Hannah O'Donnell, who breaks ahead of the JMU defense.  O'Donnell dribbles toward the goal from 25 yards out and beats goalie Kate Courter with a shot from 16 yards to the right corner.
* NU - Hanna Terry sends a pass from behind the midfield line to Devin Griffin.  Griffin dribbles into the box and shoots from the left side from 16 yards to the lower right corner.

Second Half:
* JMU - Redshirt senior Kelly Germain (McLean, Va./Langley) gets her foot on a ball sent into the box, but her shot from five yards is just wide of the goal, 55:34.
* JMU - Junior Becky Sparks (Laurel Springs, N.J./Paul VI) crosses a ball into the box, where a header from six yards by sophomore Katie Hyland (Islip, N.Y./Islip) is saved by Paige Burnett, 64:45.
* JMU - A header by Sparks is saved by Burnett, 70:39.
* NU - A shot by O'Donnell sails just over the goal, 72:33.
* JMU - Freshman Elissa Halik (Spring, Texas/Klein Collins) controls the ball after a defensive play by Sparks gives the Dukes possession.  She sends a pass ahead to redshirt freshman Madyson Brown (Herndon, Va./Chantilly).  Brown's point-blank shot from three yards is stopped by Burnett, 76:02.
* NU - A shot by Terry from 15 yards out hits the crossbar, 84:15

Of Note
* The Dukes' next game is at home against Hofstra on Sunday (Sept. 30, 1 p.m.). 

Game Stats
Shots:  JMU 9, Northeastern 11
Saves:  JMU, Kate Courter 1 (45:00); Marlee Stynchula 1 (45:00); Northeastern, Paige Burnett 5 (90:00)
Corner kicks:  JMU 3, Northeastern 3
Scoring:
NU - Hannah O'Donnell (Sandra Magnusdottir), 3:56), 36:48
NU - Devin Griffin (Hanna Terry), 42:52

JMU Soccer Weekly Notes

Scouting Towson:  Towson has a 3-4 overall record and is 1-0 in CAA play after opening league competition with a 1-0 home win over Georgia State on Sept. 22.

The Series with Towson: JMU leads the series 14-10-1.  In the 12 meetings since Towson joined the CAA in 2002, only once has a team has won consecutive games.  That happened the last three seasons, when JMU claimed victories over the Tigers.
     Four of the last six meetings were one-goal decisions.

Close Losses:  JMU's 1-0 loss to No. 11/5 Georgetown on Sept. 25 marked the Dukes' third one-goal defeat this season.

Hoyas End School Home Unbeaten Streak Record:  JMU's 1-0 loss to No. 11/5 Georgetown on Sept. 25 ended the Dukes' home unbeaten streak at a school-record 15 games (13-0-2).

MLS 24 Under 24 Hangout w/JMU Alum C.J. Sapong

Yesterday Major League Soccer hosted a Google+ hangout with this former JMU Alum, 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year, and Manassas Virginia native C.J. Sapong of Sporting Kansas City.

For more about the 24 Under 24, visit: http://www.mlssoccer.com/24under24

JMU Player Aðalsteinsson Named ECAC Defensive Player of the Week

HARRISONBURG, Va., U.S.A., Sept. 18, 2012 -- James Madison men's soccer player Bjarki Aðalsteinsson (Kópavogur, Iceland/Menntaskólinn í Kópavogi) (pronounced)Bee ARK ee  ADD uhl STINE son) has been named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

The freshman defender was instrumental in leading the JMU defense in home victories over top-ranked North Carolina (1-0 on Sept. 11) and Hofstra (2-1 on Sept. 18).

He anchored a defense that held a UNC team scoreless for the first time in 17 games, dating back to the 2011 season.  The Tar Heels entered the JMU game undefeated this season (4-0-0) and riding a school-record 16-game unbeaten streak.

In last week's games Aðalsteinsson won balls in the air, organized the Dukes' defense and was a dominating player at the back.

Earlier this week he was selected Rookie of the Week for the 11-team Colonial Athletic Association.

The ECAC award was selected among nominees from its 88 Division I member schools.

JMU improved its record to 3-2-1 and extended its home unbeaten streak to a school-record 15 games.

JMU's next scheduled game is at Loyola on Saturday, Sept. 22 (7 p.m.).

Video: JMU's Christian McLaughlin Game-winng goal to upset #1 UNC, 1-0

James Madison redshirt senior Christian McLaughlin converted a penalty kick in the closing minutes of the first half to lift the Dukes to a 1-0 upset of top-ranked and defending NCAA men's soccer champion North Carolina Tuesday evening at University Park.

Watch the video:

MLS Names C.J. Sapong #1 - Power 5 Sophomores

Former JMU men's soccer standout, 2011 MLS ROY, and Sporting KC striker C.J. Sapong has lofty expectations following his Rookie of the Year performance.
 

C.J. Sapong on Scoring Winning Goal against D.C. United

On Saturday March 10th in front of a large gathering of family and friends, Manassas, Virginia native and 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year C.J. Sapong of Sporting KC came on as a late game substitute in a scoreless match against D.C. United at RFK Stadium to score the game winning goal. After the match, Virginia Online Soccer News cought up with the former member of local club PWSI, JMU Men's Soccer, and even Super-20 Nationals with D.C. United Youth Academy to discuss the goal. In the audio Minicast below Sapong talks about how it felt to score the game winner against D.C. United ( in the 2012 MLS season opener.

Virginia Women, JMU Men NCAA Championship hopes still alive

- On the Men's side of this years NCAA Division I Championship Tournament JMU is the lone Virginia school left in the field of 16 after shuting out Wake Forest 2-0 in second round play. (Read More)

Up next for the No. 14 Dukes is a third round match against No. 3 Connecticut on November 27. (Details)



- On the Women's side of the tournament No.2 Virginia destroyed in-state rival Virginia Tech with a 4-0 shutout in round three action to advance to the final four of this years championship. Morgan Brian of Virginia continued her excellent freshman year for UVA with two goals against Tech. (UVA vs. Va Tech -Video Highlights)

Virginia will now face No. 1 Florida State University on Friday, November 25. The game will be hosted by FSU so UVA will have to play a supurb match to advance to the championship final. (Details)

William & Mary battle No. 24 James Madison Wednesday

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary Tribe men's soccer team will host No. 24 James Madison in a contest between to teams atop the CAA conference standings. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field. Live stats and live audio for the match can be found free of charge at TribeAthletics.com.


 
Scouting the Tribe The William and Mary Tribe enter Wednesday's match with the Dukes boasting an overall record of 8-5 and a CAA mark of 5-2. This past Saturday, the Tribe defeated the VCU Rams, 1-0, on a goal from sophomore John Ciampa. Entering Wednesday, the College is tied for the conference lead with 15 points along with James Madison and Old Dominion.

Leading the way offensively for the Tribe this season has been senior Nicolas Abrigo, who leads the team with 13 points and six goals scored. Both Ciampa and junior captain Ben Anderson have tallied two goals and two assists on the year. In goal, senior Colin Smolinsky has been great, recording seven shutouts while posting a goals against average of 0.92.

Scouting the Dukes The No. 24-ranked James Madison Dukes enter Wednesday's match with the Tribe on a roll, having won seven of its last eight contests. This past weekend, JMU lost to VCU, 2-1, before rebounding nicely with a 2-1 win over the George Mason Patriots. James Madison has posted a record of 9-2-1 this season that includes a 5-1 mark in CAA conference play.

The Dukes boast an experienced duo offensively in senior Patrick Innes and junior Paul Wyatt. Innes leads JMU with 22 points and 10 goals scored, while Wyatt is second on the team with 11 points and five scores. Junior Christian McLaughlin has been a solid playmaker for the Dukes, leading the team with seven assists.

In goal, senior Justin Epperson has recorded six shutouts while posting a goals against average of 1.05.
The Series In the overall series between James Madison and W&M, the Dukes hold a 18-20-8 record over the Tribe dating back to the 1969 season. Last year, William and Mary went in to Harrisonburg ranked No. 14 in the country and came away with a 2-1 win over the Dukes. Alan Koger had a pair of goals in the victory to lead the Tribe.

JMU Women's Soccer Falls 3-1 to Virginia Tech

JMU Women's Soccer Falls 3-1 to Virginia Tech - JMUSports.com—Official Web site of James Madison University Athletics

Spotlight on C.J. Sapong, PWSI and JMU Standout



photo property of: SportingKC.com

Sporting Kansas City rookie forward, JMU alum, and PWSI product C.J. Sapong is having a great first season in the MLS.

Sapong was selected No. 10 by Sporting K.C. in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft after a college career that saw the Manassas, VA product score 37 goals and tally 21 assists.

So far Sapong has produced 3 goals and 3 assists during the 2011 MLS season.

Check out this video of Sapongs' latest goal against the Portland Timbers last weekend:





JMUSports.com wrote this great piece about the former JMU Soccer standout, have a read:

Read full article: HERE

Potomac Falls Soccer Players announce college commitments

Potomac Falls High School athletes have announced which colleges they will be attending.

See the list of soccer players and which schools they will attend below:

• Isaac Owusu (boys soccer - VCU)
• Kate Murphy (girls soccer - Elon)
• Harley Morocco (girls soccer - Randolph-Macon)
• Kelly Abt (girls soccer - JMU)

 From VivaLoudoun Story

Introducing JMU women's soccer player Olivia Tomoff

INTRODUCING JMU WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OLIVIA TOMOFF - JMUSports.com—Official Web site of James Madison University Athletics

Former JMU Standout C.J. Sapong scored first MLS Goal

CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Omar Bravo scored twice for Sporting Kansas City.

Sporting KC took the lead in the 2nd minute when a failed clearing attempt at midfield by Chivas fell to C.J. Sapong, who beat goalkeeper Zach Thornton. It was the first career goal for the rookie from James Madison and the fastest for a rookie in MLS history.

Kansas City doubled its lead just before halftime when Bravo chipped the ball past the goalkeeper. Chivas USA cut the lead in half in the 55th minute when defender Jimmy Conrad headed in a corner kick.
Bravo scored his second in the 75th minute to give Sporting KC a two-goal lead.

Chivas midfielder Ben Zemanski closed out the scoring in the 84th minute.


Read more: SportsIllustrated.com

Meet JMU Women's Soccer Player Kate Courter

This is one of a series introducing the JMU women's soccer freshman class of 2010. The features will appear every Tuesday on jmusports.com. 

--INTRODUCING JMU WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER KATE COURTER--