ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Jacob Williams (So., Millersville, Md.) scored his fifth goal of the season to give Navy men's soccer (8-0-0) a 1-0 victory over Liberty (3-5-0) on Tuesday night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. The Midshipmen's 8-0-0 start is their best start in program history since 1966 and Navy extends its winning streak to 12 matches, which is the longest in the country.
Just before Tuesday's match, Navy entered the top 25 of the United Soccer Coaches Poll at No. 25 with 55 points. The national ranking is Navy's first in program history since October 28, 2014, when the Midshipmen we ranked 23rd overall with 82 points.
Williams tallied a goal in his third-straight game and he has scored four goals in the last five contests for the Midshipmen. Wyatt Millard (Jr., Columbia, S.C) picked up his second assist in as many games after setting up the game-winning goal. In eight matches this season, Navy has recorded six shutouts following Tuesday night's result.
"I was really happy with the way we played tonight," head coach Tim O'Donohue said. "I thought Liberty was a good team when watching them on film and they beat George Mason earlier this year, 3-1, and Liberty has played a really tough schedule. I thought it was a solid performance, we only gave up three shots and we created a lot of chances. Midweek games can be difficult between league games and I thought it was a good performance."
The Midshipmen came out firing early with Nicko West (Jr., Mansfield, Texas) getting an early scoring chance but his shot went just wide of the far post 35 seconds into the match. Navy's offense stayed in attacking mode with three shots and three corner kicks in the first 11 minutes of the contest.
In the 24th minute, the Midshipmen finally broke through and took the early advantage. Millard dashed to the end line on the left-wing and just before going out of bounds, he centered the ball into the middle of the six-yard box, where Williams got his toe on the ball and poked it into the back of the net for the first and only goal of the contest.
Matt Nocita (So., Porter Ranch, Calif.) tried to double Navy's lead heading into halftime off of the Midshipmen's fifth corner kick of the opening period. After Joe Alex (So., Lockport, N.Y.) sent in a ball from the left corner, Nocita made a run to the back post but after his header beat the Flames goalkeeper, Liberty's defense cleared the ball off the goal line.
The physicality of the match picked up in the second half and the Flames were booked with three yellow cards in less than a 10-minute span. In a slower-paced second half, only two shots were recorded both coming from the Midshipmen. Williams had a volley attempt in the 64th minute that rolled into the hands of Danny Cordero in Liberty's goal and after Diego Manrique (Sr., Buford, Ga.) split the Liberty defense he sent his shot just over the crossbar.
Late in the second half, the Flames had an opportunity off of a corner kick, but after the ball rattled around the penalty area, Ian Bramblett (Jr., Easley, S.C.) scooped up the loose ball to keep Navy ahead 1-0 and seal the win for the Midshipmen.
Navy finished an 8-3 advantage in shots and had a 5-1 edge in shots on target. Navy's three total shots allowed were the fewest they have surrendered in a match this season and the fewest shots they have allowed since September 26, 2015, when the Midshipmen only allowed three shots in a 1-0 victory against Loyola.
Following Tuesday night's action, Navy and No. 4 Clemson are currently the only two teams in the nation to sit at 8-0-0 on the season. The Midshipmen are also one of eight teams left in the country without a loss or a tie to start the season.
The Midshipmen are back on the road on Saturday afternoon as they return to Patriot League action. Navy travels to Baltimore to face Loyola at noon on Saturday.
