Oct. 12, 2005
Box Score
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Sophomore netminder Thomas Jenkins (Franklin, N.C.) posted his second shutout of the season, but the Navy offense couldn't solve the UMBC defense and the result was a 0-0 tie on a cool, rainy night at the UMBC Soccer Stadium. With the tie, Navy's record now stands at 7-4-1, while UMBC is 6-4-3. Both teams entered the game ranked eighth in the NSCAA / adidas South Atlantic Regional rankings.
UMBC has been nearly unbeatable in the last four years at the UMBC Soccer Stadium, now holding a 26-game regular-season unbeaten streak in Baltimore. The Retrievers are 18-0-8 in the last 26 games, but Navy was the last team to beat them at their place (Sept. 2002), and nearly ended the streak on Wednesday.
Each team had its scoring chances in the contest. UMBC dominated the first half, outshooting Navy, 9-1, but its best chance went awry when freshman midfielder Dan Bulls knocked the ball over the net from close range after a long Retriever possession.
Navy rallied in the second half, as both teams attempted six shots. Navy's Kenan Knieriem (Kailua, Hawai'i) shot wide of an unguarded net in the 55th minute, and Travis King (Loveland, Ohio) struck the crossbar as he ran onto a centering pass in the 75th minute.
UMBC outshot Navy, 18-13, and Jenkins made five saves to earn his second shutout of the season. Since earning the start against American four games ago, the Mids are 3-0-1, and Jenkins has posted a 0.47 GAA and an .895 save percentage in that span. Meanwhile, UMBC freshman netminder Steve King recorded his fifth shutout in six starts as he made four stops for the Retrievers. UMBC did draw seven corner kicks to Navy's two, and committed 20 fouls compared to Navy's 15.
Navy will return to Patriot League play on Saturday with a key contest against Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y. The game will be broadcast online at www.sportsjuice.com/providers/colgate(.) Action gets underway at 7:00 p.m., on Saturday night. Colgate enters the contest with a 6-4-2 overall mark and are tied for the league lead with Navy, American and Lehigh with a 2-1-0 record.
# GO NAVY #
