Dukes ready for battle with VCU

FILE PHOTO Sophomore midfielder Mark Totten dribbles past a Towson defender last week. The undefeated Dukes take on No. 23 Virginia Commonwealth Friday.

The unblemished 9-0-1 Dukes are off to their best start since their 2000 Colonial Athletic Association championship season.

Their matchup against No. 23 Virginia Commonwealth University (6-2-1)(2-0) in Harrisonburg Friday will have a major impact in the CAA standings.

Despite a flawless record and a lead in the CAA, the Dukes still have much to prove. Apart from a 3-1 victory at Virginia Tech and a 2-1 win at Bucknell University, JMU’s other vanquished opponents have a cumulative 27-46-8 record.

"We’ve had a few tests this year, but this game is a big deal," junior defender Danny Sheridan said.

Friday night will be the Dukes’ chance to prove their worth on a national stage.

"The team is really excited about this opportunity," coach Tom Martin said.

While the Dukes outscored their CAA opponents 9-1 last weekend, VCU also added two conference victories. As the Dukes downed Towson University 5-1 at home last Friday, the Rams were busy upending No. 20 the College of William & Mary, 2-1. Two days later, VCU took down No. 15 Old Dominion University, 3-1.

"The CAA is the strongest it’s ever been," Martin said. "And VCU in the recent past has been king."

CAA points leader, VCU forward Dominic Oduro, will be the focus of the Dukes’ defense. JMU also will keep an eye on CAA assists leader Ricardo Opoku.

"I’ve scouted Oduro. He’s phenomenal," Martin said.

The Dukes’ offense, which has outscored opponents 26-6 this season, will be tested by VCU’s newly adorned National Player of the Week, goalkeeper Saul Montero. Montero stopped two penalty kicks last weekend.

VCU is not the only team on the rise — after his multi-goal performance against Towson, freshman midfielder Lasse Kokko was named CAA Rookie of the Week.

The Dukes’ offense has been putting up numbers of their own. Sophomore midfielders Kurt Morsink and Mark Totten have four points each in the last four matches. Kokko and junior midfielder Bobby Humphrey each have three points over that same span.

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