JMU Tops Hofstra 4-3 On PK's After 0-0 Draw To Capture Third Straight CAA Men's Soccer Title
Rob Washburn
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (April 17, 2021) – James Madison captured its third straight CAA Men’s Soccer Championship, edging Hofstra 4-3 in penalty kicks after the two squads battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Saturday afternoon at Drexel’s Vidas Field.
The 18
th-ranked Dukes (5-0-3), who became the first team to earn three consecutive CAA titles since Hofstra did it from 2004-06, receive the CAA’S automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship. The Pride finished with a 5-2-3 record.
JMU converted its first four penalty kicks with Alex Krakowiak, Rodrigo Robles, Tyler Clegg and Luca Erhardt finding the net, while Hofstra got makes from Jack Nuttall, Stefan Mason and Storm Strongin, but had a miss in round two. With the match on the line, Hofstra keeper Wessel Speel made a diving save to keep the Pride alive. However, Hofstra’s final kick hit the underside of the crossbar and fell inches shy of the goal line, giving the Dukes the title.
JMU had an 8-5 shot advantage in a scoreless first half, but both teams had scoring opportunities. In the 18
th minute, the Dukes’ Ethan Taylor drove into the right side of the box, but his 10-yard shot was deflected away by Speel. Just over a minute later, JMU’s Josiah Blanton had a 20-yard shot deflect off the post. The Pride’s best opportunity came in the 33
rd minute when a long pass from Mason found Matthew Vowinkel in the left side of the box, but his header from close range was saved by JMU keeper TJ Bush.
The Dukes put five of their eight shots on net in the second half, but couldn’t get on the board. Speel made a diving deflection of a Taylor shot in the 51
st minute and caught a header from Axel Ahlander in the 77
th minute. JMU’s best chance came in the 80
th minute when a 20-yard shot from Robles was tipped over the crossbar by Speel.
Hofstra didn’t put a shot on goal in the second half, but got several good chances in the first overtime, including a shot from the top of the box that was tipped over the crossbar by Bush in the 97
th minute.
JMU finished with a 20-10 advantage in shots. Speel tallied a season-high eight saves and recorded his third shutout of the year. Bush registered a pair of saves in posting his fifth shutout.
It was the second time in the past three years that JMU and Hofstra went to penalty kicks in the CAA Championship game, with the Dukes coming out on top 4-2 on PK’s after a 1-1 tie in 2018.
Ahlander was chosen as the Most Outstanding Player and was joined on the all-tournament team by Bush, Melker Anshelm and Krakowiak. Hofstra was represented by Speel, George O’Malley and Pierce Infuso. Rounding out the all-tournament team were Chris Donovan and Michael McCarthy of Drexel and Jacob Evans and Gabe Mercer of UNCW.
CAA MEN’S SOCCER ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Axel Ahlander, James Madison (Most Outstanding Player)
TJ Bush, James Madison
Melker Anshelm, James Madison
Alex Krakowiak, James Madison
Wessel Speel, Hofstra
George O’Malley, Hofstra
Pierce Infuso, Hofstra
Chris Donovan, Drexel
Michael McCarthy, Drexel
Jacob Evans, UNCW
Gabe Mercer, UNCW