Sept. 16, 2006
Box Score
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- John O'Reilly scored his second goal of the game just a minute into the second overtime session to hand the Mids a 2-1 setback in the Patriot League opener for both teams. The loss drops Navy's record to 3-4-1 overall, while Lehigh improves to 5-1-1 overall.
"I thought it was our best performance of the year," said Navy head coach Rich Miranda. "It was a game where neither team deserved to lose. It was a great team effort by everyone and our bench really stepped it up tonight. This league is tough, and I think we proved we are a good team. They just made one more play than we did and our mistakes cost us tonight."
Lehigh took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute when O'Reilly calmly drilled a penalty kick after a Lehigh player was fouled in the box. O'Reilly defeated the Mids, 1-0, last year after converting a penalty kick in the 87th minute of last year's game.
However, Navy responded after halftime when senior captain Tom Shelly (Crofton, Md.) scored his first career goal in the 62nd minute. Freshman Chris Marino (Longwood, Fla.) sent a cross into the box, in which Shelly chipped into the top of the net past the Lehigh goalkeeper to tie the game at one. The assist was the first point on Marino's career.
Both teams then had chances in the first overtime session. First, Lehigh had a shot at an open goal, but freshman Chris Schneider (Arlington, Texas) was credited with making a team save as he cleared the ball out of harms way with about three minutes to play. Navy countered and Marino had a shot to win it, but a Lehigh defender made a team save with about a minute to play to keep Navy at bay.
Lehigh then got the break it needed just a minute into the second overtime when Navy fouled just outside the box. O'Reilly bent a shot around the Navy wall into the right side of the net for the game winner.
The win was Lehigh's seventh in a row over the Mids and snapped Navy's modest four-game Patriot League home unbeaten streak, dating back to last year.
Lehigh outshot the Mids, 19-16, and drew four corner kicks to Navy's two. Evan Barnes (Dublin, Ohio) was credited with five saves for the Mids.
Navy will be back in action on Wednesday night, when it hosts Mount St. Mary's at 7:00 pm.
# GO NAVY #
