[JAMES MADISON-OLD DOMINION] No. 17 James Madison got a sensational goal and two assists from Englishman Paul Wyatt and beat No. 14 Old Dominion, 3-2. With its fourth straight  win, the Dukes claimed sole possession of first place in the CAA with an 8-1-0 mark and improved to 12-2-1 overall.

JMU never trailed in the match, taking a 1-0 lead on Wyatt's goal in the 33rd minute. Wyatt picked up the ball on the Dukes' side of midfield, eluded several ODU defenders and raced into the box, where he beat ODU's French goalkeeper, Victor Francoz, with a low six-yard shot to the right corner.

ODU tied the score in the 56th minute when senior Tommy Webb knocked in a rebound, but the Dukes pulled ahead on goals by senior Patrick Innes and freshman Jonathan Barden. An ODU penalty kick converted by Jason Gaylord in the 81st minute closed the gap to 3-2.

JMU coach Tom Martin praised Wyatt's play.

"If you put a paint brush on his rear end," the veteran coach said, "he'd probably paint the whole field if you let him. His work rate is just phenomenal.  He is a leader by example, he is a vocal leader, and he puts kids on his back.  He did a very good job, and tonight was a classic example of that, but credit to everybody.  We got them on a counter for Barden's goal and Pittsy's [Innes'] goal was kind of a semi-counter. "

JMU had a 20-5 edge in shots over ODU, which came into the game with a seven-game winning streak.

With two games remaining, JMU can finish no worse than second in CAA, which gives it a first-round bye in the six-team CAA Tournament. The top seed hosts the tournament on Nov. 10-12.
 
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