Aug. 29, 2008
Box Score
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy men's soccer team had its opportunities, but couldn't find the net in its season opener, tying St. Francis, 0-0, in Friday's second match of the Navy Soccer Classic.
"I thought for the first game that both teams gave a great effort. It was a hot and muggy night and players were getting tired, but both teams really left it on the field," said Navy head coach Rich Miranda. "It was a very even battle, but it felt like we played a lot of defense in the second half. We need to work on keeping possession and executing better on the offensive end. We played a lot of long ball, and I think it was due to fatigue. Fatigue causes you to get tired mentally, and we weren't focused and we chased a lot. That is an area we need to work on for Sunday."
The Mids had the better of play in the first half, with the best chance coming about 15 minutes into the contest. Sophomore Mike Porcelli (West Islip, N.Y.) sent a shot towards the goalie that was blocked. However, he gathered the rebound and slid a low shot to the far corner that St. Francis goalie Chris Antonino swatted away with a lunging effort just before the ball crossed the goalline.
After that, chances were few and far between for both teams in both regulation and overtime. Navy outshot the Terriers, 7-4 in the first 45 minutes, but St. Francis turned the tables in the overtime sessions, outshooting the Mids, 3-0, to bring the game totals to 13 apiece.
"We were very composed in the first half and I thought we played a very good half," said Miranda. "In the second half, their forwards broke us down and played much quicker than we did. We just didn't seem to adjust to the pace very well. Game fitness is very different than practice fitness, and we are going to have to get our legs under us and get better in that aspect."
It was the first career game for five of the 18 players that saw action. Miranda was pleased with the way they played tonight.
"It was nice to get their feet wet and get them game action," said Miranda, in reference to starters Sam Lepley (So.; Des Moines, Iowa) and Chris Anderson (So.; Fort Worth, Texas), and reserves Kieran Sexton (Fr.; Waxhaw, N.C.), Kevin Rodrigo (Jr.; Sinking Spring, Pa.) and Wes Powell (Fr.; Jackson, N.J.). "I thought Wes Powell and Kieran Sexton played very well tonight. Powell is a guy that can give us offense and is threatening to grab a starting spot. Sexton came in on the defensive end when our back four was getting tired and gave us good minutes with fresh legs. We are going to need his contributions all season long. The back four won't be able to play 90 minutes every game.
"I thought our defense was fine as usual. The back four played well," said Miranda. "We struggled on the attack."
Nolan Grebb (Sr.; Woodbury, N.J.) made five saves in his first action in almost two years to garner his second career shutout. St. Francis had three corner kicks to Navy's two, and the Mids were whistled for 20 fouls to SFC's 19.
Navy will be in action on Sunday when it completes the Navy Soccer Classic at noon against Saint Mary's. UMBC defeated Saint Mary's, 4-2, in Friday's first game.
# GO NAVY #
