Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer versus Cape Fear Community College (Exhibition) on August 7, 2026 at 6 p.m.
MSOC
6 p.m.
James Madison
vs Cape Fear Community College (Exhibition)
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Dukes Ranked 18th in Final 2023 Poll
12/12/2023 4:39:00 PM | Men's Soccer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – James Madison men's soccer was ranked 18th in the final 2023 United Soccer Coaches National Rankings for Division I after a run to the round of 16, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
Â
Additionally, the Dukes were ranked 19th in the final College Soccer News Top 30 Poll and were ranked 13th in the most recent TopDrawerSoccer Top 25 Poll that came out ahead of the national title game last night.
Â
The final ranking is the highest final ranking for the Dukes since finishing 10th in 2018 after making an appearance in the quarterfinals for the third time in program history. It is the third time in the last six seasons that the Dukes have finished in United Soccer Coaches' final poll, the most in a six-season stretch since finishing the season ranked in five straight seasons from 1992-96.
Â
JMU earned its 30th 10-win season in 2023 as it finished the year 10-5-5 after appearing in the round of 16 for the fifth time in program history. The Dukes earned an at-large bid for the eighth time to make their 16th NCAA appearance before knocking off Pitt in the first round and fourth-seeded Georgetown in the second round. The win over the Hoyas was the third straight win for the Dukes against a seeded opponent, the only seeded wins the program has. The win was also the fifth NCAA win for Paul Zazenski, the first JMU head coach to win five NCAA tournament matches.
Â
Leading the way for the Dukes were All-Southeast Region selections Clay Obara and Rodrigo Robles. A Second Team selection, Obara finished the year with six goals and four assists while also earning All-Sun Belt Conference First Team honors. The redshirt senior finishes his career ranked fourth in a JMU career in matches played with 84. Robles, a Third Teamer, led the Dukes with nine goals and 24 points while also tying for the lead in assists with six. He became the first Duke to hit 20 points since 2019 and notched the 20 goals-20 assists milestone in his Division I career.
Â
In addition to Obara, Robles also earned All-Sun Belt honors by being selected to the Second Team. Joining the redshirt seniors with Sun Belt laurels were freshman Luca Nikolai, the lone freshman on the First Team, and sophomore Kevin Larsson, who was named to the Second Team. Nikolai was ranked 18th in TopDrawerSoccer's Midseason Freshman Top 100 as he scored a goal and had four assists as a defender. Larsson finished tied for third with Obara with 16 points, scoring five goals and six assists.
Â
The Dukes were one of four Sun Belt sides ranked in the final poll, falling behind West Virginia (No. 3) and Marshall (No. 8) and ahead of UCF (No. 19). Kentucky also received votes.
Â
Â
Additionally, the Dukes were ranked 19th in the final College Soccer News Top 30 Poll and were ranked 13th in the most recent TopDrawerSoccer Top 25 Poll that came out ahead of the national title game last night.
Â
The final ranking is the highest final ranking for the Dukes since finishing 10th in 2018 after making an appearance in the quarterfinals for the third time in program history. It is the third time in the last six seasons that the Dukes have finished in United Soccer Coaches' final poll, the most in a six-season stretch since finishing the season ranked in five straight seasons from 1992-96.
Â
JMU earned its 30th 10-win season in 2023 as it finished the year 10-5-5 after appearing in the round of 16 for the fifth time in program history. The Dukes earned an at-large bid for the eighth time to make their 16th NCAA appearance before knocking off Pitt in the first round and fourth-seeded Georgetown in the second round. The win over the Hoyas was the third straight win for the Dukes against a seeded opponent, the only seeded wins the program has. The win was also the fifth NCAA win for Paul Zazenski, the first JMU head coach to win five NCAA tournament matches.
Â
Leading the way for the Dukes were All-Southeast Region selections Clay Obara and Rodrigo Robles. A Second Team selection, Obara finished the year with six goals and four assists while also earning All-Sun Belt Conference First Team honors. The redshirt senior finishes his career ranked fourth in a JMU career in matches played with 84. Robles, a Third Teamer, led the Dukes with nine goals and 24 points while also tying for the lead in assists with six. He became the first Duke to hit 20 points since 2019 and notched the 20 goals-20 assists milestone in his Division I career.
Â
In addition to Obara, Robles also earned All-Sun Belt honors by being selected to the Second Team. Joining the redshirt seniors with Sun Belt laurels were freshman Luca Nikolai, the lone freshman on the First Team, and sophomore Kevin Larsson, who was named to the Second Team. Nikolai was ranked 18th in TopDrawerSoccer's Midseason Freshman Top 100 as he scored a goal and had four assists as a defender. Larsson finished tied for third with Obara with 16 points, scoring five goals and six assists.
Â
The Dukes were one of four Sun Belt sides ranked in the final poll, falling behind West Virginia (No. 3) and Marshall (No. 8) and ahead of UCF (No. 19). Kentucky also received votes.
Â
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
M/F
/ Men's SoccerMonday, June 03
Thursday, December 07
Thursday, December 07
Thursday, September 28
