PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Navy men's soccer team suffered a 2-0 loss to Saint Joseph's on Tuesday night at Sweeny Field, which was the second-straight 2-0 setback for the Midshipmen (1-5-1).
 
Navy's offense came alive in the second half with 12 shots, but the Hawks (4-2-0) scored early each of the two halves to grab the win at home.
 
"We played well in possession and generated a lot of chances," head coach Tim O'Donohue said. "We got countered twice and we need to correct a few defensive situations. We will be ready for Patriot League play."
 
Navy fell behind early in the match after St. Joseph's got on the board in the ninth minute of play. Alvin Dahn had a clear shot at goal, but Ian Bramblett (So., Easley, S.C.) made his first save of the night. However, the rebound came out toward the center of the penalty area where Leon Marci scored off his first touch to put the Hawks ahead, 1-0. 
 
The Midshipmen came up with just four shots in the first half, where Andrew Gregory (So., South Pasadena, Calif.) had the best scoring chance in the half with just over five minutes to play before halftime. Off of a freekick, a ball flicked to the back post with Gregory standing unmarked. He tried to head the ball back across goal to the far post, but he just missed the post and his header trickled just wide of the net.
 
At the intermission, St. Joseph's had eight shots with four on target, while Navy mustered just four shots in the opening frame and it was unable to register a shot on goal. Bramblett made three saves in the first 45 minutes as the Midshipmen trailed, 1-0, at the half.
 
After the break, Navy's offense came out fast with three shots, but none found the frame. Following the counter-attack from the Midshipmen, the Hawks came back with their second goal just a minute later in the 50th minute. Derek Mackinnon's shot at goal ricocheted off the crossbar to an open Ritchie Barry who scored to put St. Joseph's on top, 2-0. 
 
On the offensive end for the Navy, it started to come alive in the second half as it notched 12 shots in the half with four shots on goal. The offensive legs for the Midshipmen came late in the nine shots in the final 30 minutes of regulation. 
 
Collin Armstrong (Fr., Vestavia, Ala.) and Joe Alex (Fr., Lockport, N.Y.) had a pair of chances in the 69th and 71st minute, respectively, but both of their chances sailed just high. Navy tried to make one last comeback attempt in the final two minutes with four shots – two on goal – within a minute. However, Joseph Boehm and the Hawks defense stood up to the task to hang on to the 2-0 victory.
 
Navy and St. Joseph's finished the match with 16 shots apiece, where the Hawks had six shots on goal and the Midshipmen put four shots on target.
 
Tuesday marked the first time St. Joseph's beat Navy in the 10 all-time meetings between the two programs.
 
Navy's match at Campbell on Saturday has been canceled due to Hurricane Florence's forecasted landfall in the Carolinas later his week. The Midshipmen are now off until Sunday, September 23 when they take on Holy Cross on the road to start Patriot League action.