Courtesy: JMUSports.com http://www.jmusports.com JMU's senior class makes its final home regular-season appearances this weekend Seniors include Joel Senior, Billy Swetra, Jean Tshimpaka and Ville Wahlsten (pictured).
Head Coach:Tom Martin, 24th JMU season, 311-127-46; 33rd career season, 430-162-56
JMU This Season: 9-5-3 overall; 4-4-2 Colonial Athletic Association
This Week: The Dukes conclude their season at home against Towson on Nov. 7 (7 p.m.).
* CAA Standings: JMU was eliminated from contention for the upcoming four-team CAA Tournament after the Dukes tied Northeastern on Nov. 2. A win over Northeastern combined with a win over Towson on Nov. 7 would have given the Dukes a chance at making the tournament field. North Carolina Wilmington (8-0-2) has locked up first place in the league standings and as the tournament's number one seed will host the event on Nov. 13 & 15. William and Mary and Northeastern, tied for second in the CAA with 7-2-1 records, have also secured tournament berths. Hofstra, in fourth place (6-3-1), and Old Dominion (5-3-2), in fifth place, are vying for the final tournament berth. Hofstra hosts league-leading UNCW on Nov. 7, while ODU plays at George Mason on Nov. 7. JMU is in seventh place and can finish no higher than sixth in the final standings. * Scouting Towson: The Tigers have a 7-9-0 overall record and are 4-6-0 in league play. Towson is one spot behind JMU in the league standings in eighth place. In CAA play Towson has wins over George Mason (2-1), then 20th-ranked Old Dominion (2-1), Delaware (1-0) and Georgia State (2-1). The Tigers have lost games to William and Mary (4-1), Drexel (6-5, 2 OT), Northeastern (2-0), UNC Wilmington (2-1), Virginia Commonwealth (3-1) and Hofstra (1-0).
* The Series with Towson:JMU leads the series with Towson 11-10-1. In the meetings since 2001, Towson holds a 5-4-1 edge in the series. The past three games have all been one-goal decisions, including last year's 3-2 Tigers' win on their home field.
* Seniors Close Out Careers: JMU's senior class makes its final home appearance in the Nov. 7 season finale against Towson. Seniors include Joel Senior, Billy Swetra, Jean Tshimpaka and Ville Wahlsten.
* Epperson in Goal: Redshirt sophomore Justin Epperson has started the last three games for the Dukes, replacing Ken Manahan, who has been sidelined due to illness. * Bjorkheim Sparks Offense: Freshman Markus Bjørkheimhas scored or assisted his team's last five goals. Playing in just his fourth game of the season Oct. 31 at Hofstra, Bjørkheim scored twice in a span of 46 seconds in the second half to break a 2-2 deadlock. Less than two minutes after his second goal, he got an assist on the Dukes' fifth goal. Then, in the 84th minute, Bjørkheim's pass led to the JMU's sixth goal. His two goals and two assists all came in the final 25 minutes of the match. In the Dukes' next game, a 1-1 tie at home against Northeastern on Nov. 2, he scored the Dukes' only goal. Bjørkheim had not scored in his first three game appearances, although an apparent Bjørkheim goal in the 70th minute of the Dukes' Oct. 28 loss to UNCW was called back.
* BjørkheimEarns Rookie Award: Freshman Markus Bjørkheimwas selected the CAA Rookie of the Week for the week ending Nov. 1. (See previous note for details on his performance at Hofstra that earned Bjørkheim the CAA honor.)
* UNCW Gains First Win in Harrisonburg: UNCW's 2-0 victory over JMU on Oct. 24 marked the Seahawks' first win in Harrisonburg in 15 tries. JMU's home record against UNCW now stands at 13-1-1.
* Dukes Post Rare Recent Win at Hofstra: JMU's 6-2 victory at Hofstra on Oct. 31 was the Dukes' first win at Hofstra since 2002. JMU had lost its last three matches on Hofstra's field. The Dukes are 3-3-0 all-time in Hempstead. * Dukes Score Six at Hofstra: The six goals scored in JMU's 6-2 win at Hofstra on Oct. 31 marked the most goals netted by the Dukes since 2001, when JMU beat Radford 6-0 in a home game, also played on Halloween (Oct. 31). It was the most goals scored by JMU in a road game since 1999, when the Dukes won 6-0 at St. Francis (Pa.) on Sept. 28. Entering the Hofstra game, JMU had only scored four goals in its previous five matches of 2009. The eight combined goals scored in the Hofstra game was the most goals scored in a JMU game since an 8-0 home win over Robert Morris on Nov. 1, 1997. It was the most goals scored in a game on the opponent's field since a 7-1 loss at George Mason on Oct. 19, 1985.
* Dukes' Win Total at Nine:JMU's nine wins is the most victories for the Dukes since 2006, when JMU finished 9-5-3. The Dukes have recorded a winning season for the first time since 2006.
* Let's Avoid Overtimes:JMU has played four overtime matches this season and has yet to win one (0-1-3 record).
On the Career Lists: Goals:CJ Sapong moved from tied for 16th place to 15th place on JMU's all-time list with 23 goals.
* Dukes in the National Stats:JMU is 57th in goals-against average (0.96) in the latest NCAA National Statistics (games through Nov. 1). The Dukes are 30th in shutout percentage (0.44), 95th in saves percentage (.765) and 54th in scoring offense (1.63). Junior CJ Sapong ranks 10th nationally in points average (1.79), 16th in goals average (0.64) and 17th in assist average (0.5). Junior Ken Manahan is ranked 41st individually in goals-against average (0.823) and 72nd in saves percentage (.782).
* JMU in the CAA Stats: In the latest CAA Statistics (games through Nov. 2), JMU junior CJ Sapong leads all players in points average (1.73) and goals average (0.60) and is second in assist average (0.53). Junior goalkeeper Ken Manahan is second in shutout average (0.50).
National Rankings: Five JMU opponents (Duke, Penn State, American, William and Mary, North Carolina Wilmington) are ranked or are receiving votes in the latest national polls (NSCAA, Soccer America, College Soccer News). JMU's record against teams in the national rankings is 2-2-1.
JMU Opponents in the National Polls (Nov. 2/3) School, Game Date, Site (Result), Ranking* Duke, Sept. 1, away (L 0-2), 11th/13th/13th Penn State, Sept. 20, home (W 3-0), 25th/20th/19th American, Sept. 30, home (T 1-1, 2 OT), votes/nr/votes William and Mary, Oct. 14, away (W 3-2), votes/nr/nr North Carolina Wilmington, Oct. 28, home (L 0-2), 21st/nr/21st George Mason, Oct. 10, home (T 3-3, 2 OT), votes/nr/nr Old Dominion, Oct. 21, home (L 0-1, 2 OT, 20th/nr/nr Virginia Commonwealth, Oct. 7 (W 2-0), away, nr/nr/nr *NSCAA/Soccer America/College Soccer News
* In the Region: Five CAA members, including JMU, are ranked or receiving votes in the Nov. 2 South Atlantic Region Top 10 (NSCAA). Ranked are North Carolina Wilmington (#3), William and Mary (#4), Old Dominion (#5), JMU (#6), George Mason (#8) and Northeastern (#9).
Courtesy: JMUSports.com
