HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – After a second 2-0 week for James Madison men’s soccer, the Dukes have jumped to the No. 10 spot in the United Soccer Coaches National Rankings for Division I, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.

The Dukes moved up 11 spots after sitting at No. 21 last week, a week that saw them take down Mount St. Mary’s, 2-1, on the road before shutting out UCF, 2-0, to begin Sun Belt Conference action 1-0. Overall, JMU is 4-0-3 and is one of 13 teams in the country that remain undefeated. Additionally, the Dukes are ranked 26th in the first edition of the RPI this season.

Earlier today, graduate Davide Materazzi was announced as the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week, joining junior Sebastian Conlon (Aug. 27) and senior Enrique Garcia Barelles (Sept. 17) as winners of the award this season. JMU has earned three of the five Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, and went back-to-back this week.

Spearheading the run to begin the season is the defensive play of the Dukes, as the team ranks nationally first in goals against average (0.429), second in save percentage (.880) and tied for second in shutout percentage (.714). Individually, Conlon is one of the top goalkeepers in the country as he is tied for first in shutouts (five), second in goals against average (0.429) and fourth in save percentage (.875).

JMU continues the season Tuesday night, Sept. 24, as it hosts Radford at Sentara Park for a 7 p.m. kickoff before going on the road for the next three matches.

— JMU Athletics —