JMU to host Drexel Friday night in CAA action

Men’s soccer wins three out of last four games

by James Irwin/senior writer

Eight weeks ago, all JMU men’s soccer coach Tom Martin wanted was a six-game split. If the Dukes could go 3-3, Martin thought his team had the potential to be a noisemaker.

JMU went 3-2-1. Both losses were by one goal, the latter of which came at the hands of the No. 2 team in the country, the University of New Mexico Lobos.

“We had a tough non-conference schedule and we came out in good shape,” Martin said. “You just hope in the end that it pays dividends.”

By that, Martin could be alluding to an NCAA tournament bid, which the Dukes were denied last season despite spending most of the year nationally ranked. But the dividends Martin speaks of probably have to do with building on success more than anything.

Since losing to New Mexico, JMU has reeled off three wins in four games. The Dukes sit at 6-3-1 and they’ve proven Martin’s prediction correct.

“What we got out of those games was good competition,” Martin said. “We found out we had the potential to have a deep squad.”

That depth has been tested. All-conference midfielder Mark Totten, who led the Dukes with eight assists in 2004, has been fighting injuries for most of the season. Junior midfielder Kurt Morsink, another all-conference selection from a year ago, has been bottled by opposing defenses. The Dukes, the highest-scoring team in the Colonial Athletic Association in 2004, are in the middle of the pack this year, having scored only 14 goals in their first 10 games.

“Right now, we’re not as explosive as we’d want to be,” Martin said. “We want to get some of our explosive players back. In the meantime, someone’s had to step up.”

Someone has. Halfway through the 2005 season, JMU’s leading goal scorer isn’t Morsink or Totten. It’s Mike Tuddenham.

Who?

Tuddenham, a junior defender, has three goals and an assist, an accomplishment he credits to being in the right place at the right time.

“I would say I’m just about as surprised as anyone else,” Tuddenham said.

But Martin thinks there’s more to it. He said Tuddenham has used his aggressiveness to put himself in good position.

“You get those defenders that put themselves in the right place,” Martin said. “Tud’s always had a good shot, and we want to give him the freedom to get forward when he can. It’s been a pleasant surprise.”

Of course Martin doesn’t want that surprise to come at the expense of what Tuddenham does best. If there’s one area where the Dukes are as strong as they were a year ago, it’s on defense where they’ve allowed five goals all season.

“I think we’re doing a good job back there,” Tuddenham said. “Three of us have played together the last three or four years and we’ve had good communication. We know how each other plays.”

The backfield — comprised of Tuddenham, seniors Danny Sheridan and Sean Young and juniors Greg Liebenguth and Kayin Jeffers — is the most experienced unit on Martin’s team. They’ve been airtight.

“The credit goes to the four people in front of me,” junior goalkeeper Kevin Trapp said. “We’ve shut people down and the whole defensive focus has been pretty strong.”

Trapp hasn’t been too bad himself. He’s been in open competition for his starting job with sophomore Matt Glaeser since preseason started and all he’s done is post the best goals-against average in the conference.

“Trapp’s our No. 1 right now,” Martin said. “Matt’s been good too, but Trapp’s earned it. It’s like when you’re undecided about two quarterbacks, you eventually want to settle on one.”

One thing Tuddenham and Trapp haven’t settled on is where this team is heading. With eight games left before the CAA tournament, they maintain the Dukes are a threat but haven’t peaked yet.

“At this stage, I’d say we’ve played some good games, but to secure an NCAA bid, we’re going to have to make people notice,” Trapp said. “That mean’s doing well in the CAA tournament.”

So don’t expect Martin to be content with another six-game split anytime soon.