Sept. 12, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Freshman Sam Miller's goal with just 28 seconds left in the second overtime gave Navy a dramatic 1-0 victory over Saint Joseph's at rainy Finnesey Field on Friday night. The win moved Navy's record to 3-1-1 overall, while Saint Joseph's fell to 1-1-1.
The win was Navy's third in a row, its longest streak since the 2005 season. In addition, Miller's goal gave Navy three straight overtime wins, all coming in the last minute of an extra session. The Mids defeated Adelphi, 2-1, in overtime on Sept. 5, and Lipscomb, 3-2, in double overtime on Sept. 7.
This time around, it was the freshman Miller who supplied the heroics. With just 28 seconds left in the second overtime, Mark Garcia (Tempe, Ariz.) sent a free kick off a Saint Joseph's foul into the box, where Miller, a Tulsa, Okla., native, found a seam and flipped in a shot into the top right corner for the dramatic 1-0 victory. The goal was his first career score and was Garcia's second assist on the season.
"I thought it was a well-fought game by both teams in tough, rainy conditions," said Navy head coach Rich Miranda. "Unfortunately, we didn't score in regulation. It was just one of those games where you need to keep plugging away. Like it has been the last couple of games, we got one in overtime. I told team that whatever you do, don't win in the last minute of the game again, but I guess that has been our fate. I felt we deserved the victory and was glad to get it whenever we did."
After a sloppy first half, the Mids dominated the second half and overtime. Navy had a goal waved off early in the second half to an offsides call, but the Mids kept pressing on the offensive end and nearly scored goals several times in the second half.
Miranda noticed a difference between the first and second halves.
"The big difference was that we were just knocking balls forward in the first half," said Miranda. "In the second half, we played a little more at the feet and slipped balls behind their defense and had a lot of good runs. (Chris) Marino and (Mike) Porcelli did a great job working behind the defense."
Despite the shutout and allowing just 11 shots for the entire game, Miranda still thinks the defense can get better.
"We still have some work to do on the back four, but fortunately we have some time before Patriot League play to make some defensive adjustments," said Miranda. "If we play like that defensively in the Patriot League, we will get burned."
The Mids are now 10-2-2 in the last 14 non-conference games dating back to the start of last year.
Navy outshot the Hawks, 14-11, and drew six corner kicks to SJU's one. Navy was whistled for just 19 fouls to Saint Joseph's 23.
Senior Nolan Grebb (Woodbury, N.J.) stopped four shots in goal for his third career shutout and second this season.
Navy returns home to conclude a two-game stretch against Atlantic 10 Conference foes, when it hosts George Washington Tuesday night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. Tickets are available for just $2 and can be purchased the day of the game or by phone at 1-800-US4-NAVY.
GAME NOTES:
Navy won its third straight game for the first time since Sept. 28 - Oct. 9, 2005 ... Navy's 3-1-1 start is the second straight time Navy has started 3-1-1 and is the best since the program's 4-1-0 start in 2005 ... Navy's last three game-winning goals have come in overtime by players scoring their first career goals. Two of the goals have been scored by freshmen (Wes Powell vs. Adelphi; Sam Miller vs. Saint Joseph's). Entering this season, Navy had nine "Golden Goals' in school history ... Navy is 10-2-2 in the last 14 non-conference games since the start of last year and is 8-1-2 in the last 11 outings ... Mark Garcia's assist against SJU was his eighth of his career.
# GO NAVY #
