Men’s Soccer, Sleeper to Keeper
October 1, 2009 • By Michael Demsky,
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As JMU men’s soccer enters conference play Saturday, one thing is certain — preseason projections aren’t always accurate.
Picked to finish ninth in the preseason Colonial Athletic Association poll, the Dukes’ nonconference success has given future opposition a different opinion.
The Dukes (5-1-0) have won their last five games after losing the season opener at Duke and will continue to play Wednesday night against American. During their streak they haven’t allowed a goal, while outscoring opponents 10-0.
Their shutout streak, anchored by tough defense, earned junior goalkeeper Ken Manahan a spot on College Soccer News’ national “Team of the Week.” JMU’s most recent win, a convincing 3-0 victory over Big Ten team Penn State, has put the Dukes on coaches’ watch lists as teams begin conference play.
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) had the Dukes ranked as the fourth best Division I team in the South Atlantic region in this week’s poll. Their ranking puts them behind only one CAA team, Old Dominion, and ahead of preseason favorites William & Mary, UNC Wilmington, George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University. ODU is ranked 19th nationally by the NSCAA.
While early rankings often prove obsolete, the Dukes recent play has gotten the attention of coaches they will meet later in the season.
George Mason coach Greg Andrulis, a member of the voting panel at SoccerTimes.com, believes the Dukes have dangerous potential. Andrulis knows a power when he sees one, as his Patriots are the defending CAA champions.
“I think [JMU will] finish in the top two,” Andrulis said. “They are loaded with a lot of veterans coming back and they have a terrific defense. Coach Martin does a fantastic job down there.”
Whether or not Andrulis thinks his Patriots will be the ones standing in Madison’s way, it is clear that the Patriots have their Oct. 10 meeting in Harrisonburg circled on their schedule.
Mason players also praise the Dukes for their play thus far, but have full intentions of spoiling the Dukes winning streak in a couple weeks.
The Patriots have lost two out of their last three games against the Dukes with all three matches decided by a single goal. The Dukes fell to the Patriots 2-1 in October last season after giving up two goals in the final six minutes.
“JMU is a great team and are well-coached,” said junior defender Mike Foss. “I’ve played with and against CJ Sapong and a lot of other players on the team, so I’m happy for their success this season.”
“But you always want to win, so it isn’t surprising that I hope we beat JMU this season. There is a rivalry between the schools.”
Andrulis is just one CAA coach that believes the Dukes will be playing in the CAA championship game Nov. 15. University of North Carolina at Wilmington coach Aidan Heaney believes a combination of team experience and the addition of former Gatorade Virginia High School Player of the Year, Chris McLaughlin, gives the Dukes an edge in the conference.
“You look what they’ve done out of the conference, and with a transfer like Chris McLaughlin and the other kids they have coming back, I certainly think JMU is one of the top two teams in the conference,” Heaney said, whose team is 4-2-1.
Despite praises of their rivals, nobody will know until November if JMU will reach its ultimate goal and take the program somewhere it has not been since 2005 — the NCAA tournament.
contact Mike Demsky at demskymc@jmu.edu
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