HARRISONBURG, Va. - Despite Wes Saupe getting the first goal of his career at the Virginia Military Institute, the Keydets fell 6-1 on the road at James Madison University Wednesday under the lights of University Park.
Saupe, who transferred to the Institute from Virginia Tech, scored in the 14th minute to make it a 1-1 game, collecting a rebound from a Kyle Forché shot that was saved, but gave Forché the assist.
The pair were the only two Keydets (0-3-1) to log points on the night. Senior Daniel Kitchen and sophomore Zach Kaplan split the game time in goal, with the former getting the start and making three saves while the latter made four stops in the second half.
James Madison (3-1-0) got two goals from Josh Grant , and single markers from Jonathan Barden, Mike Whitaker, Bjark Aoalsteinson, Boyd Reid and Karel Manrau. Four assists were handed out for the Dukes, with two from Adam Bastidas and one each from the feet of Tom Fouhy and Markus Bjorkham.
In goal for James Madison, Kyle Morton made one save in his 79 minutes of play while Bill Groben finished the final 11 minutes.
On the night, the Keydets took just three shots, with two coming in the first half. Forché, Saupe and Morgan Hunter all took one shot. The Dukes managed 25 shots, putting 14 attempts on frame. Saupe's goal snapped a 463 minute scoreless streak for VMI against the Dukes, and was VMI's first mark against James Madison in Harrisonburg since 1976.
The first 10 minutes of the match were a stalemate, but James Madison broke the deadlock with Aoalsteinsson's mark in the 13th minute. Bastidas sent in the corner kick to set up Aoalsteinsson's header.
But the Keydets answered back just one minute later as Saupe scored the first goal of his VMI career. Aaron White sent in a set piece that reached Forché in the box. The sophomore took a shot but was stopped by Morton initially, but Saupe collected the rebound and put in the equalizer, giving VMI its first goal at James Madison since the 196 season.
The game went through a 15-minute scoreless drought before the Dukes finished the half with a trio of goals. McLaughlin, Whitaker and Barden all notched markers to end the first half up 4-1.
The Dukes, who were voted by the coaches to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association,controlled the pace in the first half, ripping 15 shots while VMI managed a pair. Kitchen turned aside three Duke attempts while one team save was credited. The Keydets put both of their shots on goal in the half, scoring once, with Morton stopping the second try.
VMI held James Madison to just two goals in the second half, once in the 56th minute and another in the 66th minute, both scored by Josh Grant. Bastidas and Fouhy had their assists on Grant's goals.
The Keydets continue on the road this weekend when they head to Washington, D.C. to face George Washington University. The rematch from the 2012 Jay Sculley Tournament at VMI will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Colonials' Mount Vernon Athletic Complex.
