Sept. 18, 2009
Final Stats
AMBLER, Pa. -- Freshman Eric Wootten's first career goal in overtime capped off a stunning comeback for the Navy men's soccer team, as the Mids rallied to defeat Temple, 3-2, on a warm Friday afternoon. The win was Navy's third in a row and improves its record to 4-1-0. Temple, who iwas tied with Navy for 10th in the NSCAA / Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings, drops to 1-3-1 on the season.
The win was also the 250th in head coach Dave Brandt's career, in just his 13th season as a head coach. His record now stands a stellar 250-26-14 (.886).
"Any win is a big win, but this one is big because of the way we kept coming back," said Brandt. "It's big to come from behind and win the game. That is a good trait to have in a squad."
Navy has now matched its win total from 2008 (4-11-3), as well as equaling its goal total (11) from all of last year. Navy has had nine players score its 11 goals this year.
Navy fell behind early, 1-0, as Tyler Witmer scored the first of his two goals on the afternoon in the 15th minute.
The Mids answered just over seven minutes later when senior Mark Garcia (Tempe, Ariz.) netted his second goal of the season and fifth of his career in the 23rd minute. Sophomore Wes Powell (Jackson, N.J.) sent a low cross from the right side to Garcia, who slid the ball into the back of the net to tie the game at one, which remained the score until halftime.
However, Temple responded right out of the halftime break when Witmer tallied his second goal of the game in the 60th minute and a 2-1 Owls lead.
Once again, Navy answered, only this time late in the contest. Freshman Michael Rakoczy (Cincinnati, Ohio) sent a perfect, swinging corner kick to the back post, where sophomore Sam Miller (Tulsa, Okla.) chipped it in to the back of the net in the 85th minute to tie the game at two and send the contest into overtime.
"When they went up 2-1, we kind of lost some energy and it really became a struggle for us," said Brandt. "We gave a little push in the last 10 minutes and we got the tying goal. That really fed our belief going into overtime and gave us a lot of momentum."
Navy wasted little time in the extra session, netting the game-winning goal. Wootten headed in a perfect cross from Powell in the 94th minute to secure the 3-2 victory over Temple.
Navy was outshot, 15-12, but nine of Navy's 12 shots were on goal. Navy had five corner kicks to Temple's four, and the Mids were whistled for 17 fouls to Temple's 14. Tyler Bristol (Clinton, Conn.) was credited for two saves in goal.
Navy will travel crosstown to battle the 2008 Ivy League Champion and NCAA Tournament participant, Penn, on Sunday at 2:30 pm. Penn is 2-1-2 following a 3-0 victory over Albany on Friday.
GAME NOTES:
* Both teams entered the game ranked 10th in the NSCAA / Mid-Atlantic Regional rankings. Temple finished second a year ago with a 10-5-4 record in the strong Atlantic 10 Conference and returned 10 starters and 18 letterwinners off that squad.
* Navy's 4-1-0 start matches the best since the 2001 campaign started 5-0-1. The 2005 team also went 4-1-0 in its first five games.
* Navy has matched the win total from last year (4-11-3). In addition, last year's team scored 11 goals in 18 games. This year's team has already scored 11 goals in five games.
* Navy has had nine players score the 11 goals, with just Michael Rakoczy and Mark Garcia tallying two goals each. In all, 12 players have scored points so far this year.
* Navy's four game-winning goals have come by four different freshmen.
* Wes Powell's two assists were a career high.
* Mark Garcia went over the 20-point plateau for his career. He now has 21 career points (5 g, 11 a). Garcia has scored goals in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
* Sophomore Sam Miller likes going for the dramatic in games played in Philadelphia. His first career goal last year came in a double-overtime victory against Saint Joseph's, also in Philadelphia. His second career goal came today in the 85th minute to tie the game at 2-2, against Temple in Philadelphia.
* Michael Rakoczy has scored a point in four of his five career games so far. He leads the team in points (7) and is tied for the team lead in goals (2) and assists (3).
* Navy has scored eight goals in the last three games.
# GO NAVY #
