JMU has revenge in mind

Nationally ranked Dukes head into CAAs as second seed

FILE PHOTO / Dave Kim Junior midfielder Ben Munro was named to the 2001 All-CAA second team. He and the Dukes begin CAA Tournament play today.

Two things are on the men's soccer team's mind as it heads to Virginia Beach this morning: rings and revenge.

Twice in the last three years the Dukes have made it to the Colonial Athletic Association Conference championship (1998 and 2000), losing both times despite being expected to win.
"We've been expected to win at least twice," senior forward Mike Godwin said. But the squad hopes to keep their momentum from an outstanding season rolling and bring home the CAA champion rings.

JMU rival the College of William & Mary captured the last two CAA titles. "William & Mary beat us 4-0 in the final," Godwin said. "We were the No. 1 seed and lost."

At Monday's practice, coach Tom Martin showed the team a CAA champion ring to get them pumped up for the finals this weekend.

This year, the Tribe most likely will be JMU's first opponent. Thursday at 7:30 p.m., CAA No. 3-ranked W&M takes on No. 6 University of North Carolina-Wilmington. The Tribe is third in the conference with a 3-2-0 record, while being 10-8-1 overall. The Seahawks are dead last in the CAA, having lost all five conference matches. Their overall record is 3-14-0. The winner of that match will then play No. 2 JMU at 5 p.m. Friday.

"It's pretty safe to say it's going to be William & Mary," Godwin said of the Dukes ‘ chances of playing the Tribe Friday night. The winner of JMU's match Friday night will play for the championship Sunday.

Four weeks ago, JMU upset W&M 2-1. The match was a vicious dogfight consisting of 48 fouls, nine cards and the referees calling in security. The victory permanently knocked the Tribe out of the national rankings.

But JMU still isn't taking anything for granted, going up against W&M again, especially after losing to them in last year's championship.

"Come tournament time they're always in the peak of their game in the CAAs," Godwin said. "It's going to be a really tough game."

Senior forward David Kozak added, "They're very well coached, so they're always tough to play, especially in tournaments. No matter what happens in the regular season, it's always an even stronger team."

Unlike this past season, last year the team lost to W&M in the regular season 2-1 in overtime.

"With what they did to us last year," senior midfielder Reggie Rivers said, "that's a lot of motivation to get back at 'em."

The Dukes are ranked second in the CAA Conference, with a 3-1-1 record, having lost to Virginia Commonwealth University and tied Old Dominion University. However, their 10-5-1 overall record surpasses all the other CAA rivals, being 10-5-1 despite such a rigorous schedule.

"We want to play the best teams we can play," Martin said. ODU is ranked first in the CAA, with a 3-0-2 conference record.

But whether it's the favored W&M or UNC-W, the Dukes are ready to win Friday night.

"It's still going to be a good game, no matter who we're playing," Rivers said.
Younis said that after playing so well against UVa Friday night, the Dukes showed the level of play they are capable of. "It showed us the way we can play against big teams" he said. "Nobody's hurt. I'm sure everybody's ready to play."

Rivers added, "We have to do the same things we did this season. We need to play smart and play hard."

Friday, after JMU's game, ODU plays the winner of the Thursday afternoon match between VCU and George Mason University. Most predict that if JMU wins Friday night, it will meet ODU in the finals.

"I think our conference is going to be stronger this year than it was last year," Martin said. Rivers said he'd prefer the Dukes meeting GMU in the finals, having beaten them easily this season, unlike VCU and ODU.

Then if JMU wins, it will play Sunday afternoon, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. in the Championship Game, vying for the coveted CAA champion ring.

"I probably won't wear it," Rivers said, contemplating a fortunate finish in the championship garnering the prized champion ring. "But I'll keep it around. It's all about the win, which is better than the ring,"

Godwin said, "I just want the ring more than anything. We'll come back with a fat ring. Bling bling."

JMU is the only CAA team nationally ranked. After losing in overtime to No. 2 UVa 2-1 Friday night, the team fell from No. 21 to No. 23 in this week's national rankings.

The 43rd annual NCAA Division I men's soccer championships begin on Nov. 23. Since the conference champions have yet to be determined, the teams chosen for the NCAA tournament have not been announced. Each of the 16 conference champions automatically receive invitations. JMU is hoping for that automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. "It's important that we win the (CAA) tournament so we're assured a shot in the NCAA tournament," red-shirt junior defender Curt Nottingham said. The NCAA tournament will include 48 teams, compared to las year's 32.

The 2001 CAA men's soccer Championship gets underway today at the Virginia Beach SportsPlex in Virginia Beach. Tickets are $6 daily for adults and $3 for students with an ID.