Sept. 13, 2010
• NSCAA / Middle Atlantic Regional Rankings
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- On the heels of its 2-0 blanking of UMBC on Saturday night, the Navy men's soccer team has moved to sixth in the NSCAA/ HendrickCars.com Mid-Atlantic regional rankings. Navy moved up one spot from last week's poll and are one of six Patriot League teams included in the poll, which is having one of its best non-conference seasons in recent memory.
Navy is one of 17 unbeaten and untied teams remaining in the country after this last weekend of play.
The Mids have opened the season 3-0-0 for the first time since 1992 and have done it with a balanced attack on both sides of the ball. Navy is leading the Patriot League in both scoring (3.33 goals per game) and goals against average (0.33 goals allowed per game). On the Patriot League team charts, Navy leads the league in points, goals, goals per game, assists, assists per game, fewest goals allowed, goals against average and shutouts. Navy has scored 10 goals in its first three games, equaling the most in a three-game span to start the season since the 1974 team scored 14 goals in the first three games. The 1992 and 2000 teams also scored 10 goals in its first three games of the year.
Meanwhile, the Navy defense has been equally as impressive, shutting out its last two opponents and holding foes without a goal for the last 256:17. Navy has allowed just one goal in its first three games, equaling the fewest goals allowed in a three-game start to the season since the 1989 team shut out its first three opponents.
Individually, Navy sits at the top of five categories. Freshmen Patrick Sopko (Gloucester, Va.) and Dave Arnold (Baltimore, Md.) lead the Patriot League in points per game (2.33). Arnold also leads in goals per game (1.00) and Sopko is tied for the league lead in assists per game (1.00). Meanwhile, freshman goalkeeper Aaron Dupere (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) paces the league in goals against average (0.37) and save percentage (.909).
Navy returns to the field this week for a pair of road games. On Wednesday night, the Mids travel to Delaware, for their first road test of the year, beginning at 7:00 pm. Live stats will be provided on NavySports.com(.) Then on Saturday, Navy heads south to face traditional power UNC Greensboro at 7:00 pm. Live stats and free video for the UNC Greensboro contest are available on NavySports.com(.)
The Midshipmen will return home on Wednesday, Sept. 22, to square off against La Salle.
# GO NAVY #
