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Post Game Interview & Highlights
NEWARK, NJ--Visiting James Madison scored a goal in each half as the Dukes edged the Highlanders, 2-1, Saturday afternoon in non-conference men's soccer action at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
JMU, which received votes in this weeks United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll, while being ranked No. 20 in the country by TopDrawerSoccer.com and No. 25 by CollegeSoccerNews, moved to 2-1-0 on the season while NJIT suffers its first loss of the season, moving to 1-1-1.
The defending Colonial Athletic Association Champions scored its first goal in the fifth minute of play by Luca Erhardt, his second goal of the season and again in the 67th minute by Josiah Blanton, his first of the year.
The final shots were in favor of the Dukes (17-to-13). NJIT's junior Alejandro Rabell led the Highlanders with three shots followed by Joao Costa, Rene White, Justin Aguirre-Rosas and Regsan Watkins with a pair of shots each.
JMU goalkeeper Martin Leu picked up the win playing all but the final five minutes of action due to injury. He stopped five Highlander shots.
The Dukes got on the board early in the fifth minute after a giveaway by the Highlanders at the top of the box as the Dukes took advantage with Erhardt putting away a shot low into the empty net for a 1-0 lead.
A dangerous chance in the seventh minute on a free kick by 2021 America East second-team honoree Rabell hit the top of the cross bar.
In the 12th minute, NJIT's senior captain Costa headed the ball off a free kick by graduate student Tomas Jorge but JMU's keeper Lew made the right-handed save.
Costa kept the Dukes off the board in the 15th minute with a team save as junior keeper Reisgys was off his line, punching out JMU's initial shot.
In the 23rd minute, Watkins received a pass from White just inside the box on the right side, striking with his right foot but JMU's Leu made a diving save.
Four minutes into the second half, JMU's Axel Ahlander strike with his right-foot hit the left post and in the 52nd minute, Erhardt had a chance to double the score at the top of the 18, firing a shot on goal but NJIT's Reisgys made a left-handed stop.
In the 67th minute, JMU's Rodrigo Robles pulled the NJIT keeper out and passed it off to Josiah Blanton, putting the Dukes ahead, 2-0.
NJIT got its first tally in the 69th minute on White's fourth goal of the season after collecting the rebound off the initial shot by Rabell's which was saved by the JMU goalkeeper Leu but was unable to hold on, which allowed White to put away his 42nd career goal.
With four minute remaining in the match, the Highlanders received an indirect kick inside the box but the JMU wall denied the home team from scoring and held on to the 2-1 victory.
NJIT's first road contest will be at BIG EAST Champions and NCAA Tournament quarterfinal appearance participant Seton Hall on September 10. Kickoff is slated for 7pm on FloSports. Last season, the two teams played to a 3-3 double overtime draw in Newark.
