Second Half Goals Lift Men's Soccer to First Win Over Ranked Opponent Since 2007, 2-0 Over JMU

Tuesday, November 1

Vidas Field

3:00

Drexel University

#12 James Madison

Second Half Goals Lift Men's Soccer to First Win Over Ranked Opponent Since 2007, 2-0 Over JMU

11/1/2011 6:02:00 PM | Men's Soccer

BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA - Looking for a signature victory to help cap the 2011 seaon, the Drexel men's soccer team got just what they were looking for on Tuesday afternoon, knocking off 12th-ranked James Madison at Vidas Field, 2-0. The victory is the first for Drexel over a nationally-ranked team since defeating No. 16 Lehigh in its season opener on Sept. 1, 2007. By shutting out James Madison, which came into the game third in the nation in RPI, the Dragons handed the Dukes their first shutout loss since Nov. 6, 2010, a 2-0 shutout to Hofstra that ended the Dukes' season last year.

Tal Bublil scored the game winner, Manuel Cazares added a big insurance goal in the 88th minute and Pentti Pussinen put together his fifth shutout of the season to propel the Dragons (5-10-2, 4-5-1), who wrapped up the home portion of their 2011 season with a 5-4 record at Vidas Field.

James Madison (11-3-1, 7-2-0), which has already clinched the top seed in the upcoming CAA Tournament, player physical soccer as they tried to force the Dragons into mistakes that would lead to scoring chances. Although they were able to get some good looks early on, they could not take advantage. They outshot the Dragons just 6-5 in the first half, with both teams getting two shots on goal and both goalkeepers making the stops.

With nearly 15 minutes gone in the second half, it was actually the Dukes who made a costly mistake that led to the eventual game-winner. The Dragons worked their way into the box, and the ball got loose less than 10 yards out from the goal. In the fight for the loose ball, JMU keeper Justin Epperson leapt to try to punch the ball out of the box, but missed. Now out of position, Epperson could only watch as Dragons' defender Tal Bublil headed it in.

For Bublil, the tally was his second career goal, and second in three contests. Both markers would turn out to be game winners.

The Dragons' goal came with just over 30 minutes remaining in the game, and there were several scary moments for Drexel before they could truly celebrate. Seven minutes after Bublil scored the winner, he saved a potential game-tying shot. The Dukes' Adam Bastidas got control of the ball 15 yards out, and unleashed a hard, low shot that was deflected by a Drexel defender. Pussinen, who was playing the ball's original trajectory, was in no position to scramble back and stop the ball, which was still heading on net. Instead, Bublil was on the spot to kick save the ball out of harm's way.

James Madison had two more good looks in the next few minutes, with Patrick Innes shanking a wide open shot in the box and Paul Wyatt ripping one off the crossbar and straight down, not crossing the goal line, with just over five minutes to play in the game.

Perhaps the Dukes' best chance came with 4:39 to play, with the Dragons needing another team save to preserve their lead. Dale Robins-Bailey got in close, and headed a cross that looked destined to go in the left side of the net. As he got the shot off, Drexel forward Ken Tribbett went into a full sprint across the mouth of the goal, diving headfirst and heading the ball towards the sideline at the last possible second.

With the clock ticking down, Drexel's Malcolm LeBourne took in a beautiful feeder pass from the midfield and beat the Dukes' defense. Manuel Cazares was at his side, and after drawing Epperson out of his comfort zone, LeBourne touched a pass across to Cazares, who tapped it home for the ever-important insurance goal.

Drexel will now conclude its season on Friday night when they visit Old Dominion. The Monarchs, currently ranked 16th in the nation and 11th in RPI, have already assured themselves a spot in the CAA Tournament, and currently sit in second place behind JMU. The Dragons and Monarchs will kick things off at 7:00 p.m.