ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's soccer team fell in its opening contest of Colonial Athletic Association play, dropping a 6-0 results to defending league champion James Madison on Saturday night, Sept. 14, at Rudd Field.
 
The Dukes, who advanced to the Elite Eight after reaching the NCAA Tournament last season, improved to 3-2 overall on the year and 2-0 during league play. Elon (1-3-1, 0-1 CAA) dropped its third straight game while also conceiving its first-ever defeat to JMU in a series dating back to 2014.
 
The Rundown
The Dukes got on the board very early on the opening stanza. Less than two minutes into the match, James Madison's Manuel Ferriol took a shot at the top of the 18-yard area and struck it into the back right corner to put JMU ahead 1-0.
 
Ten minutes later, Ferriol struck again, earning the brace with his second goal of the match. A member of the 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List, Ferriol took a curving shot from outside the box that went over the head of the Phoenix keeper to put the Dukes ahead 2-0.
 
Ferriol continued to make his mark on the contest on the Dukes' third goal in the 26^th minute. The Valencia, Spain, native found Niclas Mohr on a cross from the right side as Mohr was able to put it past the Phoenix defense for the third goal of the match.
 
JMU added its next three goals off the foot of freshman Dennis Mensah. The Alexandria, Va., native netted a hat trick in the last 15 minutes of the first half to extend JMU's lead.
 
Both teams emptied the bench in the second half, combining for only six shots. JMU's best look of the second half came on a free kick outside the 18-yard area in the 52^nd minute that curved to the left post, but the shot was knocked away from Phoenix keeper Alex Lorne.
 
James Madison won the overall shot battle, 12-9, with seven of those coming on goal. The Dukes also had the slight 6-5 advantage in corners over the Phoenix.
 
Up Next
The Phoenix closes out its homestand with a contest against Appalachian State next Tuesday, Sept. 18. That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Rudd Field.