Feb. 8, 2010

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy rifle team fell short in both disciplines on Monday morning, falling to Army, 5770 - 5738, in the annual Star Match between the two squads. The Mids fall to 6-1 overall on the season, heading into Saturday's NCAA Qualifier.

Army posted its third-best score of the season, in topping the Mids for the fourth time in the last five years. Army also topped the Mids in the President's Trophy in November by just five points.

"I felt that the score was closer than the final indicated, and if we had shot our average in air rifle, it would have been very close," said Navy head coach Bill Kelley. "Our smallbore was where it has been all year, but our air rifle fell off about 30 points and that was the difference. That is what beat us up."

Shooting five competitors, Navy trailed after the smallbore discipline, 2874 - 2843. Chris Burleson placed second in the competition with a 580, but Navy's other four struggled in the smallbore gun. Kenan Wang placed fourth with a 573, Liz Leckie and Alison Lankes scored a 564 and George Planeta shot a 562. Army's scores were 581, 578, 575, 570 and 570.

"Even our smallbore was not as good as it should have been, and outside of Burleson, they were all lower than normal," said Kelley.

The Black Knights then clinched the match, outscoring the Mids, 2896 - 2895 in air rifle.

Burleson earned medalist honors in air rifle with a 586, but was the only shooter above 580. Alison Lankes tied for third with a 580, Leckie tallied a 577 and Wang and Ryan Williams had 576's, respectively.

"We just didn't have the depth we needed to have to keep with them. Army had that one extra shooter that hurt us," said Kelley. "We need to regroup and get ready for the NCAA qualifier against John Jay College this weekend. This performance won't help us for the NCAAs, so we need to really step it up this weekend."

Navy will host John Jay on Saturday at 9:00 am at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range.

# GO NAVY #