Second-Half Blitz Downs Dukes Against No. 5 Kentucky

Saturday, October 1

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

3-6-1, 0-2-1

Kentucky

7-0-2, 2-0-1

Kentucky

James Madison

10/1/2022 10:23:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. — James Madison held off the attack from No. 5 Kentucky through the opening 45 minutes, but fell 3-1 behind a trio of goals in the second half on Saturday night at Sentara Park in Sun Belt Conference men's soccer action.

The Dukes fell to 3-6-1, 0-2-1 SBC while the Wildcats improved to 7-0-2, 2-0-1 SBC.

Redshirt sophomore Ethan Taylor led the JMU attack with three shots, while redshirt junior Clay Obara was the lone goal scorer for the Dukes. Freshman Sebastian Conlon made two saves in goal.

How It Happened

The Wildcats came out with an offensive barrage in the first half, attempting 11 shots but only putting two on goal.
The Dukes only took three shots in the first half, but none was better than the look Taylor had in the 12th minute that was stopped with a diving save from Isaac Walker in goal.
Obara had a look on target as well on the 42nd minute.
The two teams went into halftime scoreless, as it was the eighth time this season JMU was tied at the break.
Kentucky got on the board first in the 54th minute when Ben Damge found the back of the net from the middle of the box.
UK added another goal on a penalty kick less than two minutes later after a foul.
The Dukes made it a one-goal match again when Obara scored his first goal of the season. The midfielder drove down the end line in the 75th minute and fired a shot that trickled off of Walker's body and rolled past the goal line.
With five seconds remaining in regulation, Martin Soereide scored to give UK a 3-1 lead.

Game Notes

The Dukes are 3-3-2 when tied at half this season.
Kentucky outshot JMU 22-8, only the second time this season the Dukes have lost when getting out shot.

Quoting Head Coach Paul Zazenski
"We played tonight with a much improved intensity and desire to compete. Giving up a PK and a goal in the last five seconds was tough, but we battled and had a few quality chances down the stretch to tie it up that we didn't finish. Kentucky was very good in every position and we were right there for most all of the match. We will get a week to rest and recover for Gardner-Webb on next Saturday."

Up Next
The Dukes take a week off before welcoming Gardner-Webb to Sentara Park for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 8. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.