March 26, 2012
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - For the second time this season, Navy sophomore attackman Sam Jones (Annapolis, Md.) has been named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, picking up this week's citation after scoring the game-winning goal on Saturday against 12th-ranked Colgate. In addition to Jones, Lehigh's Mike Noone (defense) and Matt Poillon (Goalkeeper) along with Bucknell's David Dickson (rookie) were among those players recognized by the conference office as players of the week at their respective positions.
Jones paced the Mids with a three-goal, two assist performance against Colgate, but it was his goal with 3.4 seconds left in the game that led to Navy's first victory over a ranked team since snapping its 36-game losing streak to Johns Hopkins on April 24, 2010.
After Colgate knotted up the game at 10-all, Jones gave the Mids a one-goal advantage with 7:15 remaining in the game after curling around the left side of the goal and firing in his shot between Colgate keeper Jared Madison's legs. The Raiders came back to even the game with 2:38 to go when the nation's No. 1 scorer, Peter Baum, swept across the box and rippled the back of the net for the third time in the game. With just over a minute to go, Navy called timeout to set up a final play. Midfielders Nikk Davis (Cockeysville, Md.) and Pat Durkin (Germantown, Md.) played catch at the top of the box for the better part of the minute before setting the play in motion. Durkin got the ball to Jones, who once again hugged the left crease and tucked the ball into the cage for the game-winner.
Jones, who is Navy's second-leading scorer with 24 points on 13 goals and 11 assists, came into the game having scored just two points in games played away from Annapolis this season. Meanwhile, Colgate was the lone team to hold Jones without a point a year ago.
While Navy snapped Colgate's five-game winning streak, the Mids have built a four-game winning streak of their own. The last time Navy won four in a row was in 2009, defeating Mount St. Mary's, Lafayette, Lehigh and Holy Cross.
Navy will be looking to put together their first five-game winning streak since 2008 when they play host to seventh-ranked Lehigh Friday night in a nationally-televised contest. CBS Sports Network will air the 31st meeting between the Mids and Mountain Hawks when the two programs clash at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium beginning at 7:00 pm. Fans can also tune in to WNAV 1430 AM/99.9 FM with Pete Medhurst calling the action.
### Go Navy ###
