Two second half goals from Isaiah Chisolm propelled No. 24 Kentucky men’s soccer (6-0-3, 3-0-0 Sun Belt) to a 2-0 win over James Madison (1-7-1,0-3-0 Sun Belt).
Tempo was a key point to the game, but fouls had a major impact on both team’s result over the entire 90 minutes, with a combined 31 fouls and six yellow cards given out making it an aggressive battle for possession.
The entirety of the first half resulted in decent scoring chances on both ends, while control continued to swing both ways, so did the physicality.
Shot production has been a struggle for James Madison all season, averaging just below eight shots a game, was held to just one shot at halftime.
As Kentucky became more aggressive offensively to start the second half, it would be a reoccurring theme for the next 45 minutes.
Kentucky put up two goals from Chisolm, including an important insurance tally off of a penalty shot in the 78th minute.
The Dukes had plenty of scoring chances but could not find a way through the defense of the Wildcats.
“JMU did a really good job, and they took away what we were trying to do in the first 45 minutes, but then we kind of did what we did in the second half, and at some point, your legs go,” Kentucky Men’s soccer Head Coach Johan Cedergren said. “Sometimes you just have to tire them out… at some point they wear out.”
The offensive side of the game was prominent towards the later minutes when Kentucky’s forwards and midfielders started generating more offensive opportunities.
“It’s a 90-minute game, you don’t have to win in the first half,” Cedergren said. “You just have to win at 90, and when you play in the Sun Belt where every opponent and game really matters, they’re not gonna make it easy for us.”
With an overall cautious heavy game that was played, Kentucky took the risk late, resulting in another conference win.
Kentucky looks to get its third straight win traveling to Huntington to take on the Marshall Thundering Herd on Friday, Oct. 10th, at 7:15 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.
