James Madison head men’s soccer coach Tom Martin picked up his 350th career win at JMU on Friday night as the Dukes topped UNCG 1-0 on the road for their first win of the 2014 season.
After a scoreless first 76 minutes, freshman forward Joe Vyner (Bath, Somerset, England/Beeches Cliff School) scored his first collegiate goal on a strike from 25 yards out to give the Dukes the lead. Vyner took a cross down the left side of the field from freshman midfielderFrancisco Narbon (Panama City, Panama/Shattuck St. Mary’s (Minn)) and fired a bending shot past UNCG goalkeeper Davis Griffin for the goal.
Vyner’s shot on goal was the only shot on target in the contest for either team. JMU took nine shots while UNCG fired seven.
Prior to the goal, JMU’s best chance to score came in the 48th minute when a cross into the box found the head of senior forward Josh Grant (Plymouth, England/Torpoint College). In a bit of space, Grant got a clean header away that glanced off the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.
The Spartans’ best chance to get on the board came early in the 13th minute when Tommi Gardarsson sent a cross into the box and found Moises Gonzales, but the freshman’s header sailed high over crossbar.
JMU returns to action Monday, Sept. 8, at home against penn state. Kick between the Dukes and Nittany Lions at University Park is set for 5 p.m. penn state is ranked No. 16 in the most recent NSCAA Coaches Poll released Tuesday, Sept. 2.
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Chris Graham
