Alexander, Blum drive NU past Dukes, 1-0

by Matt Houde
October 12, 2012

BROOKLINE, MASS. -- The Northeastern men's soccer team extended its home winning streak to 11 games, dropping James Madison by a score of 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Parsons Field.

Junior Conner Alexander scored the game's lone goal, coming in the 29th minute off an assist from classmate Nikko Lara. Senior Oliver Blum stopped three shots to earn his second shutout of the season. Colin Newcity made two saves for the Dukes in the loss.

With the win, Northeastern moves to 7-1-2 on the year, and 2-0-1 in CAA play. JMU drops to 4-5-2 (2-1-1 CAA).

Don Anding, who led all players on the day with six shots, had NU's first chance minutes into the contest, but his open look was too hard and sailed over the cage. JMU's best early chance came in the 22nd minute, when Christian McLaughlin sent in a corner kick to the head of Bjarki Adalsteinsson, but his attempt skipped high.

NU broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. After earning a throw in, Lara pulled off a spinning flip throw into the box. Alexander won position deep in the penatly area and headed his second goal of the season past Newcity to put the Huskies up 1-0.

Anding nearly tacked on another goal in the final minute of the first half, but his breakaway chance itno an empty net skipped wide. NU took its 1-0 lead into the break. The teams were even in shot sin the first half with five apiece, and Alexander's goal was the only shot on goal for either side in the half.

In the 57th minute Anding knocked on the door yet again, having a shot saved one on one with the keeper before gathering his own rebound and firing a shot wide. Donovan Fayd'Herbe de'Maudave earned a corner in the 64th minute that led to a Devin Devoy blast in the box, but it sailed high.

McLaughlin nearly equalized in the 82nd minute, send a rocket on net that Blum dove to tip over the crossbar. His resulting corner was coralled by Blum before the Dukes could create a chance.

Action picked up in the game's final five minutes. After Blum stopped a Marcus Bjorkheim chance, NU's Dante Marini won a long ball for a breakaway, but his shot was also turned aside. NU held off JMU's late advances for the win.

The Huskies stay home for their next match, a Wednesday afternoon tilt with Delaware on Oct. 10. Game time is set for 3 p.m.


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