Dukes get off to fast start

File Photo Redshirt sophomore midfielder Mike Tuddenham and the Dukes warm up prior to a game earlier this season. JMU is 4-0-0 in 2004.

Dispatching Liberty University and toppling previously No. 20 Virginia Tech in the Virginia Tech Classic Tournament boosted the Dukes to a 4-0-0 record.

With two tournament titles under its belt this season, the team now finds itself in the national spotlight. The SoccerTimes.com panel of coaches awarded the Dukes a vote as one of the nation’s top 25 teams.

"Based on what happened in the Tech game, I’m not surprised," coach Tom Martin said. "It’s rewarding for the players."

What does surprise Martin is the number of his players that have major contributions so far this season.

"We are a young team that has sustained some major injuries," Martin said. "But we’ve had a number of guys step up."

In their four games this season, eight different players have tallied a point for the streaking Dukes.

Redshirt freshman forward Frank D’Agostino, who had seen little time for the Dukes in the past due to injuries, has started and scored in the last two games.

"We know we have a bunch of guys who can play," Martin said. "And that’s what makes us so hard to prepare for. You never know who is going to come up big."

The Dukes still are considered a young team and will have to make up for their inexperience.

"We need to bring the ‘A’ game every day," Martin said.

Against the six teams who made the CAA tournament last season, the Dukes were 4-2. Against other CAA opponents, they went 0-1-2.

"That is the telling statistic of last season’s young team," Martin said. "We came out with a lackadaisical attitude on occasion."

Of the 32 players listed on JMU’s roster, 22 are sophomores and freshmen. With so much youth, the Dukes look to the fruition of potential, as their top four scorers are freshmen and sophomores.

Experienced players like junior defender Danny Sheridan, who was named the Virginia Tech Classic MVP, and senior midfielder Denny Fulk are catalysts for this maturing team.

Its team dynamics will determine if this team fulfills its potential.

"Every team has talent, but so many things have to happen for team dynamics to work," Martin said. "We have quality players and we’ve been working hard, but we are not there yet."

The encouraging start has not led to unbridled optimism.

"This team and these kids have a great sense of humor and a lot of potential. They’re fun to be around," Martin said. "But, when you’re winning, dynamics problems can be easily masked.

"We just have to continue to improve."

.