Men's Soccer Fights To Scoreless Draw At JMU

Sunday, September 2

Harrisonburg, VA

2:30 p.m.

Temple University

0-1-1

James Madison

1-2-1

OT 3

OT 4

Temple

James Madison

Sophomore Dan Scheck

Men's Soccer Fights To Scoreless Draw At JMU

9.2.12 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

| Box Score (PDF)

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Taking on tournament host James Madison , who came into the weekend receiving votes in the national polls, Temple Men's Soccer fought through an intense physical battle and tantalized JMU's pesky offense in the team's 0-0 tie at University Park on Sunday, marking the final day of the Fairfield Inn By Marriott Invitational.

A physical tempo was evident from the onset of the match, contributing to a flurry of nine cards being issued between the two teams. With each team receiving a red card, it became 10-aside soccer for both squads in the 98th minute and through the remainder of extra time.

For the second straight game, Temple was robbed of a goal. In the final minutes of regulation, an apparent score by senior Andrew Dodds with just over five minutes to play was disallowed when he was ruled offside.

“It was a real good battle with a lot of action,” head coach David MacWilliams said. “We had a strong start and then they [James Madison] had a better showing and controlled much of that half. Our guys used a lot of energy and showed a lot of good character. I think a year ago, we would have lost a game like this, so it was great to see how well our guys competed not only today, but in both games this weekend. I'm very proud of the effort our guys gave today and I certainly have to give a lot of credit to both teams we faced this weekend.”

Making his second straight start in net due to senior Bobby Rosato suffering an injury on Saturday at practice, sophomore Dan Scheck put up an outstanding performance. Over the 110 minutes, JMU (2-2-0) ripped 30 shots to Temple's eight. Of the Dukes' chances, only four were directed in the way of the Owls 'keeper, who passed all four tests, earning the first shutout of his collegiate career. His counterpart, Colin Newcity earned his shutout by turning away as many shots from the Owls.

In the 96th minute, the Owls nearly stunned the crowd, as freshman Jared Martinelli blasted a ball that nailed the iron of the goal. Getting his own rebound, he ripped the comebacker, but it ended up wide of the netting.

Temple opened the match with a lot of momentum. Junior Vaughn Spurrier started an Owls' threat after his shot was blocked away in the 11th minute. Martinelli, who finished with a team-high three shots, tried to slam home the loose ball, but a stop by Newcity would hold TU from taking an early lead. About four minutes later, Spurrier had another chance to do damage first, but his shot was also denied by Newcity.

James Madison brought the pressure in the game's final six minutes, having three straight shots, but compliments of one being off target and the other two blocked away by Scheck's unit in front of him, the Owls were able to keep the Dukes off the scoreboard.

With its first two games of 2012 now in the books, the Owls (0-1-1) have nine days before returning to action, which will be on Sept. 11 when they welcome Manhattan for a 3:00 p.m. match to open this season's home slate at the Ambler Sports Complex.