ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Tyler Collins (So., Crofton, Md.) was selected as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Monday afternoon for the first time in his career, the league office announced. Collins leads Navy (7-0-0) into its matchup on Tuesday night against Liberty (3-4-0) at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility starting at 7 p.m.
In two matches last week, Collins helped Navy pick up two victories after he played 174 minutes to help anchor the backline. He also helped limit the offense against both Longwood and Holy Cross after allowing just 17 shots over the two matches. Collins and the Navy defense did not surrender a shot on goal in a 4-0 win against Holy Cross. Collins is the second Mid to be named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after Matt Nocita (So., Porter Ranch, Calif.) earned the award following the first week of the season.
Along with Collins' recognition, Ian Bramblett (Jr., Easley, S.C.), Diego Manrique (Sr., Buford, Ga.) and Nicko West (Jr., Mansfield, Texas) were selected as honorable mention players of the week in the league.
Navy comes into the Tuesday's match with a record of 7-0-0, which is the program's best start since 1966. The Midshipmen also have the nation's longest winning streak with 11-straight wins dating back to last season. Navy is one of six programs in the country with a 7-0-0 record thus far.
Last week, the Midshipmen earned a midweek victory on the road against Longwood, 2-1, and Navy started the Patriot League season with a 4-0 win against Holy Cross at home. The Midshipmen first set a new season-high with 18 shots against the Lancers on Wednesday night and then it only took Navy one match to break that mark with 21 shots at home against the Crusaders. The 21 shots from the Midshipmen was the most in a match since they recorded 26 shots against Bucknell on October 17, 2015.
West led the offensive charge for Navy with three goals over the two matches. He first tallied the game-winning goal against Longwood and chipped in with a pair of insurance goals against Holy Cross for his second career multi-goal game. Jacob Williams (So., Millersville, Md.) also scored in each match and he recorded his first career assist against Holy Cross. Williams' assist came on Ben Nicholas' (Sr., Cornwall, Conn.) goal, which was his first goal since his freshman campaign.
On the season, Williams leads the Navy offense with four goals and nine points while the pair of West and Nocita are just behind with three goals and six points. Manrique – who notched a pair of assists against Longwood – leads the team with four helpers in 2019. Bramblett has played all 630 minutes in goal for the Midshipmen and he has posted five shutouts in the seven matches. The junior has 14 saves, to go along with a 0.29 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage.
Liberty starts the week with a 3-4-0 mark and is coming in off a loss to North Florida, 1-0, which snapped the Flames' two-match winning streak. Liberty has posted an even .500 mark on the road going 2-2-0 in its four road contests. Musa Morris is the team's lone multi-goal scorer with two of Liberty's six goals this season. Seth Clark is just behind Morris' four points with three points, all coming from assists. The Flames have split time between Danny Cordero and Brogan Engbers in goal with Cordero playing in four matches and Engbers has made four appearances. The duo has combined for a 1.43 goals-against average and a .688 save percentage. Cordero has the only shutout for Liberty with three saves in a 1-0 win against VMI.
The Midshipmen and Flames have met just five times prior to Tuesday's match with Navy leading the series 3-2-0 and in three matchups in Annapolis, the Midshipmen have grabbed two victories. The last time the two programs met was in 2002 when Liberty earned a 1-0 victory over Navy in Annapolis. The first four meetings of the series came once a year from 1989-92.
Parking / Shuttle / Ticket Information
Fans are reminded that the general public does not have access to drive their vehicles on to the U.S. Naval Academy. Fans may park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for $5 and take a shuttle that will run every 10 minutes starting one hour before the game and will continue running until one hour after the game is completed. Fans 18 and over need a government-issued photo ID. Enter Gate 5 off Taylor Ave. to park at the stadium. Dogs are not permitted inside the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. All soccer contests at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility will be free of charge.
