The Shadow
HARRISONBURG, Va. (VR) – A 49th-minute go-ahead goal by Dylan Randazzo wasn’t enough to propel James Madison men’s soccer (3-4-1) to victory Tuesday night, as Liberty (2-4-2) responded with an equalizer in the 67th minute before the two sides battled to a 2-2 draw at a rainy Sentara Park.
Randazzo and Christer Salvesen were JMU’s two goal scorers, while Carlos Cámara Tur, Daniel Reiter and Luis Fuentes all finished with an assist.
In addition to being tied on the scoreboard after 90 minutes, the Dukes and Flames finished even in shots, with both registering nine attempts. Liberty held a slight 5-4 edge in shots on goal while also edging JMU in corner kicks, 4-3.
Seven players managed to fire off a shot for JMU, with Chris Niblock and Leon Kondic leading the Dukes with two attempts apiece. Despite allowing two goals, JMU’s defense made several dazzling plays as two of JMU’s three saves came from field players, with both Håkon Rake and Brock Frasier cleared balls away in chaotic situations.
Quoting Head Coach Paul Zazenski
“Liberty is a strong team and a lot better than their record indicates,” said Zazenski. “We didn’t play our best in the first half but in the second half we saw a lot of the ball and had the better of chances. It came down to two goals in which we were not as switched on as we should have been. Offensively we were efficient and had some solid pressure to create our goals on the night. A fair result and one we can learn from as we move into mostly Sun Belt play down the stretch.”
How It Happened
- Liberty drew first blood when Hugo Kopke managed to place the ball in the back of the net in the eighth minute of play.
- JMU wasted no time striking back, as Salvesen intercepted a wayward Flames pass in the defensive third, setting up a golden opportunity for the Dukes. Salvesen and Cámara Tur played the two-man game to perfection, as the Sandnes, Norway, native put the Dukes level with a beautiful left-footed strike.
- Right before halftime, JMU narrowly escaped danger when Brock Frasier made a heads-up play to clear a ball heading toward goal off the line and out of the box. The play marked JMU’s first non-goalkeeper save of the season.
- The Dukes turned defense into offense early in the second half when Rake made a critical tackle to change possession in JMU’s favor. With the ball near the far touchline, Fuentes made a centering pass that Reiter received and played along to a charging Randazzo for the go-ahead JMU goal.
- Kopke scored his second goal of the night in the 67th minute, equalizing the contest at its eventual final score, 2-2.
Game Notes
- With the 2-2 result, James Madison recorded its first draw of the season and first since a 1-1 decision against Coastal Carolina on Nov. 4, 2025.
- Both of JMU’s goals were scored by first-time scorers this season, as first-year Dylan Randazzo recorded his first career goal and points, while Salvesen scored his first goal and points as a Duke and the third goal of his career.
- For the third time in series history, JMU and Liberty finished a 90-minute match in a draw. The two sides also played to scoreless draws in 2025 and 2021.
- With an assist on the Dukes’ opening goal, Cámara Tur has registered a point in each of JMU’s last three contests, making him the first Duke to do so since Rodrigo Robles in 2023.
Up Next
After an undefeated three-game homestand, James Madison travels to Columbia, S.C., to clash with No. 1 South Carolina at 7 p.m. Sunday.
