Sept. 4, 2009
Box Score
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Senior goalkeeper Beth Reed (Indianapolis, Ind.) made a career-high eight saves and posted her second career shutout as the Navy women's soccer team (4-0-1) remained unbeaten after playing Atlantic-10 power Dayton (2-0-2) to a 0-0 draw on Friday evening from a rain-soaked Cobb Stadium.
"This was a great result for us against a very, very good team in Dayton," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "It was a flat-out battle. I thought they held the better part of the possession, but that we had the better chances, despite what a look at statistics might indicate. We had breakaways in each half, but we just couldn't convert."
The two squads played to a scoreless tie over the first 90 minutes, in spite of Dayton's considerable 23-5 advantage in shots. The Flyers produced the only six attempts on target during regulation time (four of which came in the first half) and all eight over the 110-minute match, but Reed successfully turned away each effort to keep the clean sheet in tact.
"For the most part, we kept them out of the box and most of their shots came from long-range," said Gabarra. "Beth was certainly great for us tonight."
Navy had a number of quality scoring chances in regulation, the first coming in just the contest's second minute as junior Christine Calderon (Yorktown, Va.) had a breakaway opportunity, but sent the ball sailing over the bar from just outside the 18-yard box.
On 75' sophomore Annie Kendzior (Southlake, Texas) found a seam and broke in 1-v-1 with the Flyers' keeper, but pushed her shot just wide of the goal from roughly 16 yards out.
Three-time All-Atlantic-10 forward Mandi Bäck then nearly broke the deadlock for Dayton at 86:39, but her tough-angle volley struck the inside of the near post and came back out across the goal and towards the sideline out of harm's way.
Much of the play during the two 10-minute overtime sessions remained between the boxes as both teams vied for the winner. The Flyers would produce the only two shots on goal during overtime (one in each period), but on both occasions Reed was there for the Mids.
Navy returns to action on Sunday afternoon when it takes on ACC foe and tournament host Miami (Fla.), beginning at 3:30 pm.
Match Notes:
*The match, originally scheduled for a 5:00 pm start, was delayed nearly 2.5 hours due to severe thunderstorms.
* Friday's meeting between the Midshipmen and the Flyers brought together a pair of 15-win teams from a year ago. Both teams also were the preseason favorites to claim their respective conference crowns (Navy in the Patriot League; Dayton - in the Atlantic 10).
*Dayton is currently fourth among the team's receiving votes in the NSCAA National Rankings (29th overall). The Flyers also entered the week as the top-ranked team in the NSCAA's Mid-Atlantic Region rankings. Navy is currently in the No. 7 spot in the same poll.
*At 4-0-1, Navy has opened the year unbeaten through its first five games for just the fourth time in program history (previously: 2002, 2003, 2006).
