No. 21 Dukes Open Sun Belt Slate with Fourth Straight Win

Saturday, September 21

Harrisonburg, Va.

9:30 p.m.

James Madison University

4-0-3, 1-0-0

UCF

2-2-3, 0-1-0

UCF

James Madison

No. 21 Dukes Open Sun Belt Slate with Fourth Straight Win

9/22/2024 1:10:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – After a nearly two-and-a-half-hour weather delay, No. 21 James Madison opened up Sun Belt Conference play with its fourth straight win, knocking off UCF, 2-0, in men's soccer at Sentara Park on Saturday night.

The Dukes improved to 4-0-3, 1-0 SBC and remain unbeaten through the opening seven matches of 2024, while the Knights dropped to 2-2-3, 1-0 SBC.

A trio of Dukes led the offense with a pair of shots each, coming from redshirt seniors Jordan McMillen and Evan Southern and sophomore Jeffrey Aguilar. Junior Sebastian Conlon earned his fifth shutout of the season, making two saves in 90 minutes between the post.

Quoting Head Coach Paul Zazenski
"Tonight was a very professional performance under unique circumstances, having pushed back the game to a 10 p.m. kickoff. The guys played very well on the night and it was great to keep another shutout against a very good attacking side in UCF. Proud of the group for getting three points in the Sun Belt and starting out conference play on a positive note."

How It Happened

The Dukes had the first chance of the night in the eighth minute as Southern put a shot on goal.
JMU had the lone other shot on goal in the half with a shot from freshman Milo Wray from just outside the box being saved in the 41^st minute.
It took 52 seconds after the halftime break for JMU to get on the board, as a cross from the Dukes into the box was headed by a UCF defender directly to redshirt senior Davide Materazzi. He then made a move and was able to sneak the ball into the back of the net by the near post.
Materazzi then aided on the defensive side of the ball, as Clarence Awouder brought Conlon out of position in the 54^th minute and had an open look on goal before Materazzi sent the ball over the end line inches in front of the goal line.
The Dukes doubled their lead in the 61^st as Southern stole a pass at midfield before passing it back-and-forth with McMillen. McMillen then received the pass in the middle of the box and fired in his second goal of the season.
JMU's back line held strong for the remaining 29 minutes, holding the Knights to just one shot on goal and four corner kicks for the remainder of the match.

Quick Facts

Evan Southern's fourth assist of the season is the 15^th of his six-year career and the 81^st point.
Continuing the trend of the season, all nine of JMU's goals this season have been in the second half.
The five shutouts the season for the Dukes matches the total from last season.
JMU outshot UCF 13-11 while the Knights had the corner kick advantage at 7-3.
The win is the 60^th JMU win at Sentara Park, moving to an overall record of 60-35-19 (.610) since the facility opened in 2012.
JMU opens conference play with a win for the first time since 2021.
In the last two seasons, the Dukes are 8-1-3 at home

Up Next
The Dukes will host Radford on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. at Sentara Park before heading back into Sun Belt play against Georgia Southern on Sept. 28.