Dukes Fall in Season Opener to Marshall

Thursday, August 26

Harrisonburg, Va.

7:30 p.m.

James Madison University

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Marshall

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Marshall

James Madison

8/27/2021 1:32:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The James Madison men's soccer team withstood a two hour and 32-minute weather delay before falling in their season opener, 6-1, to Marshall on Thursday night at Sentara Park.

The Dukes drop to 0-1 while the Thundering Herd, who came into the match as the number one team in the country, move to 1-0.

Marshall got things started early on, scoring a goal in the seventh minute just over the outstretched arm of Dukes' goalkeeper Martin Leu. The Thundering Herd would then add a second goal in the 28^th minute to take a 2-0 lead.

The Dukes didn't back down though, returning the favor minutes later and cutting the deficit in half when Luca Erhardt was fouled just outside the 18-foot box. Axel Ahlander stood over the ball fired a bullet off of the free kick into the back of the net for his second career goal and to put JMU on the board, 2-1.

Marshall found the back of the net once again in the 37^th minute to give themselves a 3-1 lead as the teams went into the half. The Dukes outshot the Thundering Herd 5-4 in the first half.

The Thundering Herd returned in the second half with the poise that helped them be defending national champion as they scored goals in the 53^rd, 66^th, and 68^th minutes to take the game, 6-1.

Quoting Head Coach Paul Zazenski
"Tonight we went through a lot of adversity in a number of different ways. We had our chances going forward and didn't capitalize when we needed to. They had eight shots on frame and scored six which is what good teams do. We need to learn from this game and understand what worked and what didn't and reset for Sunday."

Up Next
The Dukes will wrap up the Fairfield by Marriott Invitation with a Sunday matinee with Kansas City. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Sentara Park.