Pair of Dukes Score to Drop NJIT

Saturday, September 4

Newark, N.J.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

2-1-0, 0-0-0

NJIT

1-1-1, 0-0-0

Dukes

NJIT

9/4/2021 6:59:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. – Forward Luca Erhardt and defender Josiah Blanton provided the scoring for James Madison, as the Dukes took down NJIT, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.

The win moves the Dukes to 2-1, while NJIT falls to 1-1-1.

The Dukes came out the gates aggressive, taking a shot and forcing a corner kick before taking another shot in the fourth minute. JMU then got on the board in the fifth minute, as a lazy NJIT pass was intercepted by Erhardt who took a step and then fired a shot that would score and give JMU a 1-0 lead.

The two teams would trade shots over the next 15 minutes before the Dukes defense would lock down their backline, not allowing NJIT to take a shot from the 22^nd minute until halftime. The Dukes would out shoot the Highlanders 6-0 during that time and would hold the 1-0 lead into the locker room.

Both teams returned to start the second half firing, with NJIT taking two shots in the first five minutes and JMU adding a shot as Axel Ahlander missed a goal by inches off the post. The two teams continued to trade shots until the 67^th minute when Blanton increased the JMU lead to two. The Dukes were able to steal the ball and a cross to Rodrigo Robles to draw the Highlanders' goalkeeper out allowed him to pass it off the Blanton who kicked in his first goal of the season.

NJIT didn't wait long to respond, scoring a goal in the 69^th minute as a free kick ricocheted off JMU goalkeeper Martin Leu and rolled away for NJIT to knock in and make the score 2-1.

Both teams' backlines would hold their ground over the final 20 minutes, with neither team getting an advantage on the other. NJIT had a chance to tie the game in the 86^th minute as they were rewarded an indirect free kick inside the box, but the JMU wall in front of the goal held strong and preserved the 2-1 win.

Game Notes

With 17 shots in the match, it is the first time since 2017 that JMU has started off the season with three consecutive matches with double-digit shots.
Rodrigo Robles recorded his third assist of the young season, tying his career-high in a season that he set in 2019 with West Virginia. He has all of JMU's assists this season.
Luca Erhardt's goal moved him to 99 career points in his collegiate career.
Three different Dukes took three or more shots, as Erhardt had four shots and Clay Obara and Axel Ahlander both took three shots.

Quoting Head Coach Paul Zazenski
"It was good to get a win on the road against a good team in NJIT. We are generating lots of offensive chances which is great to see. We need to have a few players step up on the defensive side of the ball in order to be at our best. Overall we are proud of the guys for grinding this one out on someone else's home field."

Up Next
The Dukes return home for a matchup with George Mason on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Sentara Park.