JMU Men Beat Hofstra 2-1 in CAA Opener
HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 15, 2012 -- The James Madison men's soccer team (3-2-1, 1-0-0) extended its unbeaten streak to a school-record 15 games with a 2-1 win over previously unbeaten Hofstra (4-1-1, 0-0-0) in Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer Saturday evening at University Park.
It was the first CAA game of the season for both teams.
Dukes redshirt sophomore Tim Whitebread (McLean, Va./McLean) set up the game-winning goal, sending the ball into the box on a square pass from the left side of the field. An on-rushing sophomore Josh Grant (Plymouth, England/Torpoint College) beat Hofstra junior goalkeeper Roberto Pellegrini (Rome, Italy/Bolzanovo) with a shot from six yards with 17:35 left in the game.
The Dukes have not lost a home game the last two seasons, and their 15-game (13-0-2) unbeaten streak is a school record. JMU entered the game riding a 14-game streak, which matched the 14-game (13-0-1) unbeaten streak set over the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
JMU did not trail in the game, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by freshman Tom Fouhy (Buckinghamshire, England/Dr. Challoner's) in the 33rd minute. Senior Paul Wyatt (Modbury, England/Ivybridge) sent a ball from the middle of the box to Fouhy on the left side. Fouhy sidestepped two defenders and sent a 10-yard shot into the left side of the net.
Minutes later, however, Hofstra junior Chris Griebsch (Dessau-Rosslau, Germany/Jena) sent a free kick from 28 yards out on the right side into the upper left corner of the goal. The tying goal came in the 37th minute.
JMU out-shot the Pride 12-7, and redshirt junior goalkeeper Colin Newcity (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) made two saves. Pellegrini also finished with two saves.
"We were a little lethargic in the first half. We scored a nice goal, and then we gave up a nice goal," said JMU head coach Tom Martin. "It was all about making a couple of little adjustments at halftime and getting our energy level up, and working for each other and pressuring the ball, and that's what led to the second goal."
"They take a lot of pride in (the unbeaten streak). Very few people win a lot of games in a row at home. We're proud of the accomplishments the kids put together to get that done -- this year's group and last year's group," said Martin.
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