JMU celebrates the CAA Men's Soccer Championship
JMU Captures CAA Men's Soccer Championship
Rob Washburn
Boxscore | Men's Soccer #CAAChamps Central | Photos
NEWARK, Del. (November 16, 2014) – Sixth-seeded James Madison captured its first CAA Men’s Soccer Championship since 2001, defeating top-seeded Delaware 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at the University of Delaware’s Stuart and Suzanne Grant Stadium.
The Dukes (10-7-3) became the first No. 6 seed to ever win the CAA title and earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship. Delaware, which had its three-game winning streak snapped, dropped to 13-6-1.
JMU upset the three teams that tied for the CAA regular-season championship - third-seeded Hofstra (2-0), second-seeded UNCW (2-0) and No. 1 Delaware – on the way to earning its fifth overall CAA championship. All of those titles have come under head coach Dr. Tom Martin, who is in his final year coaching the Dukes after 29 seasons.
The Dukes scored the game-winning goal in the 21
st minute. Senior midfielder Steven Mashinski found Connor Coward with a pass at the top of the penalty box. With a defender on his back, he quickly turned and sent a 15-yard left-footed shot just inside the right post for his fifth goal of the year and his second game-winner.
Coward nearly gave JMU a one-goal advantage in the 15
th minute when fired a 25-yard shot that was headed for the left side of the goal. However Blue Hens’ senior goalkeeper Borja Barbero punched it away with a tremendous diving save.
The Blue Hens turned the pressure up in the second half in an attempt to get the equalizer. Delaware’s best chance came with 21 minutes left as junior Nick DiRienzo had an open look from 20 yards away, but his low liner was stopped by JMU goalkeeper Kyle Morton. The Blue Hens out-shot the Dukes 10-8 for the match and had a 9-6 advantage in corner kicks.
Morton finished the contest with five saves as he recorded his third consecutive shutout and fifth in seven games. He was named to the all-tournament team along with JMU junior defender Bjarki Aðalsteinsson, Coward and senior defender Daniel Simpson, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer.
Delaware was represented on the all-tournament team by junior midfielder Joe Dipre, freshman midfielder Carlos Perales, and Barbero, who stopped four shots in the match. Also making the squad were Colin Bonner and Jacob VanCompernolle of UNCW and Donovan Fayd'Herbe de Maudave and Ambry Moss of Northeastern.
CAA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Bjarki Aðalsteinsson, James Madison
Borja Barbero, Delaware
Colin Bonner, UNCW
Connor Coward, James Madison
Joe Dipre, Delaware
Donovan Fayd'Herbe de Maudave, Northeastern
Kyle Morton, James Madison
Ambry Moss, Northeastern
Carlos Perales, Delaware
Daniel Simpson, James Madison
Jacob VanCompernolle, UNCW
Most Outstanding Performer: Daniel Simpson, James Madison