I did these fall updates last year, but have been slacking this year. Here is a mid year (or later) update on our fall student-athletes and teams. Again, football is not included because if you don't know what our football is doing, why are you here? Starting with men's teams (because alphabetical order!)

Men's Golf - The team has gotten better as the year has gone on, culminating with a 2nd place finish at last weekend's Camden Collegiate Invitational in SC. The last fall competition is Nov 3-4 at the College of Charleston.

Men's Soccer - Remember how last year I said this team would be great this year? No? Don't worry, I'll look it up later. The important thing is the DUKES ARE IN FIRST PLACE! DUKES ARE #1 BABY!!! Last two games at home against Penn State (10/25) and Drexel (10/28). Both games on Madizone btw.

Men's Tennis - The team has had a successful season, with at least one showing in a final backdraw in every competition until this past weekend's ITA Atlantic Regionals. Fall season ends in two weeks at the Wake Forest Invitational.

Women's sports to follow shortly.

And now, the ladies.

Women's X-Country - Two first place finishes to start the year followed by strong showings have the team in a good spot heading into this weekend's CAA championships. After that? The ECAC and NCAA championships. No big deal! I wish there was an emoji for brushing your shoulders off. Oh well...

Field Hockey - As always, a challenging schedule has the team looking forward to the playoffs. Standing in their way? Those nerds at W&M, the 8th ranked team we've played this season alone. This is the test that will show me whether this team can potentially knock off the defending champion Chickens. Let's get it done!

Women's Golf - Like their male counterparts, the women's squad has gotten better as the season progressed, culminating in a 4th place finish at the Blue Hen Invitational. Fall finale is this weekend in Macon, GA, home of beautiful azaleas and sweet Georgia crank (bonus points if you get the TV show reference).

Women's Soccer - After a torrid start, the team has been less successful as of late, going 2-5 in the last 7, with both wins coming in OT. All that is pushed aside, however, as the team hosts W&M in the first round of the CAA Tournament on Sunday 10/29 at 1 pm. Let's get it Dukes!

Women's Tennis - The season started with a couple new trophies to add to the cabinet, and the success has not stopped! A player to keep your eye on is freshman Liz Norman, who was a 5 star recruit out of Georgia. And in case you forgot the student moniker, she's planning on majoring in physics and wants to work for NASA. I wish I had my life that planned out NOW, let alone when I was 18.

Volleyball - The team started the season on a tear, heading into CAA play undefeated. On the season the team has dropped three matches, two of them in five sets, losing to Charleston, Northeastern, and Towson. The VB Dukes are currently in fourth place behind, you guessed it, Charleston, Northeastern, and Towson. The first rematch is tonight at 7 pm as the Dukes travel to CoC. Game is available on CAA.tv... you know, in case you were wondering.

That's the story (so far) of our fall sports. A couple first place teams, several more gearing up for conference tournaments, and, overall, Dukes being #1, bud. Thank you to all our student-athletes for representing our school so well.

Go Dukes!

Women's soccer lost their by far best player midseason to an ACL. Carmen Thomas essentially was the point guard equivalent on this team. Team took a plunge with 4 straight losses and went from good to average. Hopefully they can resurge.

Similarly Volleyball lost it's MVP, their premier digger Taylor Austin is all CAA. Since her absence they are 3-2.

(10-23-2017 10:23 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  I did these fall updates last year, but have been slacking this year. Here is a mid year (or later) update on our fall student-athletes and teams. Again, football is not included because if you don't know what our football is doing, why are you here? Starting with men's teams (because alphabetical order!)

Men's Golf - The team has gotten better as the year has gone on, culminating with a 2nd place finish at last weekend's Camden Collegiate Invitational in SC. The last fall competition is Nov 3-4 at the College of Charleston.

Men's Soccer - Remember how last year I said this team would be great this year? No? Don't worry, I'll look it up later. The important thing is the DUKES ARE IN FIRST PLACE! DUKES ARE #1 BABY!!! Last two games at home against Penn State (10/25) and Drexel (10/28). Both games on Madizone btw.

Men's Tennis - The team has had a successful season, with at least one showing in a final backdraw in every competition until this past weekend's ITA Atlantic Regionals. Fall season ends in two weeks at the Wake Forest Invitational.

Women's sports to follow shortly.

Normally I would keep track of the Oly sports on JMUSports.com but the new site makes my eyes bleed so much that I haven't looked at it a single time this year.

Great to hear about the MSOC!

(10-23-2017 01:02 PM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  Women's soccer lost their by far best player midseason to an ACL. Carmen Thomas essentially was the point guard equivalent on this team. Team took a plunge with 4 straight losses and went from good to average. Hopefully they can resurge.

Similarly Volleyball lost it's MVP, their premier digger Taylor Austin is all CAA. Since her absence they are 3-2.

I was unaware of the injuries. I don't know how I missed them since I follow all of our team's on Twitter and I check here daily. Perhaps I need to check JMUsports.com more often (and hopefully, in time, my eyes will forgive me).

(10-24-2017 10:55 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  

(10-23-2017 01:02 PM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  Women's soccer lost their by far best player midseason to an ACL. Carmen Thomas essentially was the point guard equivalent on this team. Team took a plunge with 4 straight losses and went from good to average. Hopefully they can resurge.

Similarly Volleyball lost it's MVP, their premier digger Taylor Austin is all CAA. Since her absence they are 3-2.

I was unaware of the injuries. I don't know how I missed them since I follow all of our team's on Twitter and I check here daily. Perhaps I need to check JMUsports.com more often (and hopefully, in time, my eyes will forgive me).

AD, I appreciate your updates and you taking the time to do them. Good news is that Taylor played last night. Bad news is that they lost. I am fortunate that I live in Hburg and can get to games fairly often.

Not sure what is going on with the VolleyDukes team these days. Our gals lost the first 2 sets at home tonight and are down 11-8 in the 3rd set against W&M...that is, last place W&M who is 5-20 overall and 2-9 in the CAA. Hopefully, the Good Gals can and will come back.


edit note: Dukes have fought back to take Sets 3 and 4. Now heading to deciding 5th set.

Women's Cross Country just won the CAA Championship!

Awesome... this is going to be our strongest all around year ever

At 8 pm, the Men's Soccer team will take on Drexel at home. If they win, they will clinch the regular season title.

Tomorrow (10/29) at 1 pm, the Women's Soccer team starts the CAA Tournament by hosting W&M. That game is available on CAA.tv.

Men's soccer beats Drexel 1-0, wins regular season title! Not too shabby after missing the CAAT last year, great turnaround.

(10-29-2017 12:12 AM)s2dsayer Wrote:  Men's soccer beats Drexel 1-0, wins regular season title! Not too shabby after missing the CAAT last year, great turnaround.

Thanks for the heads up and congrats to the MSOC team. Well done.

Good luck to the WSOC team on a wet pitch today against W&M in the CAAT quarterfinals. 1pm, Madizone.

MSOC will host the winner of 5 W&M vs 4 Hofstra on Nov. 10, Friday, in the CAAT semifinals.

http://www.caasports.com/news/2017/10/28...s-set.aspx


edit note: could make for a nice triple-header if they can schedule the MSOC match around 2pm or so...with both the MBB and WBB teams playing a DH at the Convo starting at 5pm.

Field Hockey also won a big game over the weekend at W&M and is the 2 seed behind defending Nat'l Champ UD in the CAA tourney this weekend. Seems like a run to finals will put them at least in bubble position for NCAA's.

Congrats to Miss Enthusiasm, Taylor Austin, for winning her 3rd CAA Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week award...

http://www.caasports.com/news/2017/10/29...ct-30.aspx

She's alone worth the price of admission (if there was an admission cost that is).

Ugh. Men's soccer lose their CAAT semifinal match vs W&M 1-0. Booooooo

(11-10-2017 09:16 PM)s2dsayer Wrote:  Ugh. Men's soccer lose their CAAT semifinal match vs W&M 1-0. Booooooo

Bummer for the Men's soccer.

At least Volleyball won.

VolleyDukes currently with the 3-seed in next week's CAAT at Sinclair Gym. CoC (14-1) will be the top seed. Towson (11-4) hosts Delaware (3-12) tomorrow and will very likely nail down the 2-seed. JMU (10-5) can clinch the 3-seed with a win over Hofstra (9-6) tomorrow at home.

VolleyDukes win today to finish out the regular season and secure the 3-seed in next week's CAAT at home.

JMU will open against 6-seed Elon on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 5pm.

If the VolleyDukes win, the Good Gals advance to the semifinal Friday evening against 2-seed, Towson, at 7pm.

All matches are scheduled to be streamed online live via caa.tv.

Dukes swept Elon 3-0 and 3-1 this season. Towson though defeated JMU 3-1 in H'burg and 3-2 in Towson.

(11-12-2017 04:22 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  VolleyDukes win today to finish out the regular season and secure the 3-seed in next week's CAAT at home.

JMU will open against 6-seed Elon on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 5pm.

If the VolleyDukes win, the Good Gals advance to the semifinal Friday evening against 2-seed, Towson, at 7pm.

All matches are scheduled to be streamed online live via caa.tv.

Dukes swept Elon 3-0 and 3-1 this season. Towson though defeated JMU 3-1 in H'burg and 3-2 in Towson.

I don't know if Taylor played in either of those games. The team seems to have stabilized their play after she came back. Hopefully the team can complete the three-peat against Elon, and then we can worry about the Kittens from Towson.