No. 18 Dukes Draw CSUN to Open Campaign

Thursday, August 22

Northridge, Calif.

10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)

James Madison University

0-0-1, 0-0-0

CSUN

0-0-1, 0-0-0

James Madison

CSUN

8/23/2024 12:36:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The 18^th-ranked James Madison men's soccer team opened the 2024 campaign with a scoreless draw against CSUN on Thursday night at Matador Soccer Field in non-conference action.

The Dukes and Matadors will each begin their respected seasons 0-0-1.

Junior Kevin Larrson led the attack for the Dukes, taking a pair of shots as the lone Duke to take more than one shot. Classmate Sebastian Conlon spent the full 90 minutes in goal for JMU, earning the first clean sheet of the season behind two saves.

Quoting Head Coach Paul Zazenski
"Proud of the guys' efforts tonight on the defensive side of the ball. We went down a man and had to defend for 30 minutes under pressure. That being said, we had plenty of chances to win it. We will take the shutout and tie and move to the next."

How It Happened

The Dukes had a pair of corner kicks within the first two minutes of the contest.
Larsson had the first shot of the match, firing an attempt in the 13^th minute that was blocked and went out of bounds for the fourth Dukes corner kick of the match.
CSUN put its first shot attempt on goal, with Conlon coming up with the save in the 15^th minute.
Freshman Milo Wray took his first collegiate shot in the 36^th minute, putting it on frame.
Redshirt senior Evan Southern had an opportunity in the 60^th minute, evading defenders and putting a shot on frame that came up saved.
Marley Edwards shot over the crossbar by inches in the 65^th minute for CSUN, with the miss keeping the match scoreless.
Larsson and senior Enrique Garcia Barelles each had a shot attempt in the 90^th minute, but Larsson had his blocked and Garcia Barelles missed wide.

Game Notes

There were 10 cautions issued, with six for CSUN and four for JMU. The teams combined for 23 fouls.
JMU moves to 7-3-1 in true road games to begin the season since 1972.
It is the first season-opening shutout for the Dukes since a scoreless draw against Liberty at home to begin the spring-shortened 2021 season.

Up Next
In a clash of top-25 teams, the Dukes will remain in California and travel south to Los Angeles to take on No. 21 UCLA on Sunday, Aug. 25 for a 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT kickoff.