ANNAPOLIS, Md. – After a scoreless first 74 minutes of the game, Navy men's soccer (11-0-0, 4-0-0 Patriot League) scored two goals in 51 seconds to defeat Bucknell (2-5-3, 0-2-2 Patriot League), 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. The Midshipmen have now matched their winning streak from the 2013 season with 15-straight victories going back to last season. Navy's 11-0-0 start is its best start in program history since 1964, which was when the Midshipmen won the NCAA National Championship with a perfect 15-0-0 record.

Joe Alex (So., Lockport, N.Y.) scored his second-straight game-winning goal with a tally in the 75th minute. Nicko West (Jr., Mansfield, Texas) scored in his third-straight game and he now has six goals over the last six games following a goal in the 76th minute.

"The wind was a factor today and it was a little tricky for whoever was going into the wind, which happens being out near the water," head coach Tim O'Donohue said. "I really liked our performance today. I thought we were patient and we did not panic in the second half after going in 0-0 at the half. Bucknell is a good team and I thought they were a very physical team. Individual quality was a big factor at the end as both goals were individual technical quality moments. I am excited for our group and now we have to get ready for Army." 

In a back-and-forth start to the game, both teams had prime scoring chances in the first half but neither side could break the scoreless affair early on. The Bison looked to be the first team to tally a first-half goal against the Midshipmen as they had four of the final five shots in the first half. Within that four-shot flurry for Bucknell, Patrick O'Hara rattled a shot off the crossbar and Cody Wax tried to put home the rebound but Tyler Collins (So., Crofton, Md.) was there to clear the ball off the line to keep the game scoreless in the 33rd minute.

Ernando Manrique (Jr., Buford, Ga.) had a chance to put Navy ahead before the break with a header but his shot went just wide with 10 seconds to play in the half.

For just the second time all season, Navy was held without a goal in the first 45 minutes of play. The first occurrence came on the road against Mount St. Mary's on September 14.

To start the second half, Navy came out strong on the offensive end with Andrew Hopkins (Sr., Garrison, Md.) almost heading home the first goal of the match in the 49th minute but Luke Smith came up with the save. Nearly 30 seconds later on the ensuing corner kick, Matt Nocita (So., Porter Ranch, Calif.) tried to head in the cross but Smith lifted Nocita's shot just over the crossbar.

In the 75th minute, Navy finally broke the ice. After Wyatt Millard (Jr., Columbia, S.C.) played the ball across to West, West laid the ball back to Alex who – from the corner of the penalty area – chipped a curling ball over Smith and into the top left corner of the goal for the first goal of the game to give the Midshipmen a 1-0 advantage.

Navy's offense did not let up as it took the Midshipmen just 51 seconds to double their lead and grab an insurance goal in the 76th minute. Diego Manrique (Sr., Buford, Ga.) had run through the middle of the field and he lofted a ball past the Bison backline where West ran onto the ball in space. With a defender closing in on him and one-on-one chance with Smith, West slotted a shot past Smith to push the Midshipmen ahead by two goals with less than 15 minutes to play in regulation. 

Bucknell looked to spoil the shutout and get back into the game after Matt Thorsheim ran onto a loose ball from nearly 10 yards out but Ian Bramblett (Jr., Easley, S.C.) came up with his fourth and final save of the day in the 81st minute.

Diego Manrique tried to make it a three-goal lead for Navy in the 84th minute but Smith got his fingertips on the shot to the left side of the goal to deflect the ball wide as the Midshipmen earned a 2-0 victory to remain unbeaten.

After being outshot 8-6 in the first half, Navy had an 8-3 edge in shots in the final 45 minutes to finish with 14 shots – seven on goal – compared to 11 shots – five on goal – from Bucknell.

The shutout for the Midshipmen is their ninth of the season, which is tied for most in the country with top-ranked Virginia. Navy also runs its shutout streak to 490:21 after posting its fifth-straight clean sheet. The Midshipmen are also the first team in the nation to reach 11 victories and Navy is one of four teams left in the country without a loss or a tie this year.

Next up, the Midshipmen head to Chester, Pa., for Army-Navy Cup VIII as they take on Army at Talen Energy Stadium on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.