No. 8 Dukes Draw Gardner-Webb in Hard Fought Affair

Tuesday, September 5

Boiling Springs, N.C.

7:30 p.m.

James Madison University

3-0-1, 0-0-0

Gardner-Webb

2-0-1, 0-0-0

James Madison

Gardner-Webb

9/5/2023 10:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – No. 8 James Madison and Gardner-Webb each scored once in both halves in a match that saw a total of 30 fouls as the two sides drew, 2-2, on Tuesday evening in non-conference men's soccer at Greene-Harbison Stadium.

The Dukes moved to 3-0-1 while the Runnin' Bulldogs also earned their first draw of the season and moved to 2-0-1.

Graduate Clay Obara earned his second career brace as he netted an equalizing goal in the 22^nd minute and found the back of the net again in the 53^rd minute. Sophomore Sebastian Conlon played the full 90 minutes and recorded one save.

How It Happened

Gardner-Webb attempted the first shot of the match and put it in the back of the net in the 10^th minute after Pablo Brimeux stole the ball away in the Dukes' defensive third.
Obara equalized in the 22^nd minute when a handball was called on GWU in the box on a JMU corner kick. Obara took the penalty kick, initially having his shot blocked before shooting the rebound in goal to make it 1-1.
The Dukes continued to have chances in the first half, outshooting the hosts 10-2 with five shots on goal.
Not much time was wasted in the second half for the Dukes to take the lead. Obara attempted to cross in the 53^rd minute, but had the attempt blocked before gathering his rebound and taking a shot that slipped past the goalkeeper for his second goal.
The lead did not last long as the Runnin' Bulldogs tied the match at two in the 59^th minute on a goal from Aristode Youlou.
The final 29:01 was played mostly in the JMU attacking half of the field after a pair of yellow cards were assessed to GWU's Caio Hughes within 15 seconds of each other to put it down to 10 players.
The Dukes created chances with the player up situation, but couldn't convert as two of their three shots were saved.

Quick Facts

Clay Obara recorded his first career brace against Georgia State in last season's Sun Belt Conference Semifinals.
Both sides trailed for the first time in each respective seasons.
A total of 12 cautions were called, split between 11 yellow cards and one red card.
JMU outshot GWU 16-6 with an 8-3 advantage on shots on goal.

Quoting Head Coach Paul Zazenski
"Tonight we were not at our best overall. We didn't manage the game like we should have, and it was the difference in a win and a tie. Gardner-Webb made it very difficult on the night so credit to them as we knew it would be a tough place to play. We will reset and prepare for Saturday."

Up Next
The Dukes start a three-match homestand by welcoming Mount St. Mary's to Sentara Park on Saturday, Sept. 9 for a 7 p.m. kickoff. JMU will also host Virginia (Sept. 12) and No. 2 Marshall (Sept. 16) in the homestand.