JMU Snaps Elon's Winning Streak with Scoreless Draw

Sunday, October 26

Elon, N.C.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

6-6-4, 2-2-2CAA

Elon

8-4-4, 3-1-2CAA

OT 3

OT 4

James Madison

Elon

10/26/2014 7:09:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

ELON, N.C. – The James Madison men's soccer team fought Elon to a scoreless draw Sunday afternoon on Rudd Field in Colonial Athletic Association play.

"This is a very good road point for us," head men's soccer coach Tom Martin said. "Our team really battled and fought to the final whistle against a good team on their home field in a place we had never been. The game itself was an intense CAA contest that we put up a great effort in. We'll take the tie and look to build on that this Wednesday against William & Mary."

JMU moved to 2-2-2 in CAA play while moving to 6-6-4 overall with two games to play while the Phoenix had its four-match winning streak snapped with the tie, moving to 8-4-4 overall and 3-1-2 in conference play. The Phoenix did, however, keep their unbeaten streak alive and have now not lost any of their last six games.

In a very physical match that saw Elon whistled for 18 fouls while the Dukes were called for 15, both defenses limited the chances for its opposition in attacking positions of the field. Overall, Elon finished with a 9-6 advantage in shots while leading the shots on goal count 4-1.

JMU had two shots in both halves and the first overtime session, but couldn't muster any offensive momentum in the final overtime period. Elon posted three shots in each of the first two halves, then took three shots in the second overtime period looking to keep its winning streak alive.

Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Kyle Morton (West Chester, Pa./Reed Henderson) recorded his second-straight shutout and sixth of the season while making three saves against the Phoenix. Elon goalkeeper Nathan Dean kept his ninth clean sheet of the year, which puts him one behind the Elon record for single-season shutouts.

JMU's lone shot on goal came in the first overtime when junior midfielder Michael Russo (McLean, Va./McLean) put his shot on target, but the Elon defense cleared the chance out of harm's way to give the Dukes a corner kick. On the ensuing play, freshman midfielder Francisco Narbon (Panama City, Panama/Shattuck St. Mary's (Minn.)) got a head to the ball but his attempt sailed high of goal.

The Phoenix's best chance to break the tie came in the 81st minute when James Brace, Elon's leading scorer with six goals, sent his header attempt just high over the goal on a cross from Caue Da Silva.

JMU returns to action Wednesday night, Oct. 29, for its home finale against in-state rival William & Mary. Entering the match, JMU sits in seventh place in the CAA standings with eight points and two games to play. The top-six teams in the standings advance to the CAA Tournament.

The Tribe holds fifth place in the conference with 11 points, but they've played one more game then JMU. The Dukes' last two games of the season are against the current No. 5 and No. 6 teams in the CAA with the regular-season finale coming Saturday, Nov. 1, on the road at Northeastern.