ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Two of the top teams in the Patriot League will clash at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility Saturday as the Navy men's soccer team (7-1-1, 2-1-0 Patriot League) welcomes Holy Cross (6-2-2, 3-0-0 Patriot League) for a league contest slated to begin at 12 p.m. Saturday's contest will have free, live statistics provided on NavySports.com.
 
PARKING/SHUTTLE/TICKET/MASKING 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 the Naval Health Clinic, not Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 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. Dogs are not permitted inside the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. All soccer contests at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility will be free of charge. Masks will not be required for vaccinated individuals while unvaccinated fans are asked to wear a mask if they are unable to maintain proper social distancing. Additionally, all fans will be required to wear a mask during their trip on the shuttle, regardless of vaccination status.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Last time out, Navy secured a thrilling, 3-2 double-overtime victory over Patriot League foe Lafayette. Zach Wagner (So., Medford Lakes, N.J.) netted the game-winning, golden goal with just two minutes remaining in the second overtime period.
 
Sidney Paris (So., Oakville, Ontario) sent a looping pass into the box that was corralled by Wagner who found the post with his first shot attempt before playing a rebound and beating Lafayette goalkeeper Alex Sutton to his right, securing a thrilling victory for Navy on the first goal of his collegiate career.
 
SERIES HISTORY
In a series that dates back to the 1991 season, Holy Cross holds a narrow 15-13-4 edge over the Midshipmen. However, over the last 10 meetings in the series, Navy has compiled a 6-2-2 advantage including outscoring the Crusaders 16-8 over that span.
 
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
Over their last five matchups against Holy Cross, the Mids have a 2-1-2 record, outscoring the Crusaders 8-4 over those meetings.
Sept. 21, 2019: Navy 4, Holy Cross 0
Sept. 23, 2018: Holy Cross 2, Navy 1 (OT)
Sept. 23, 2017: Navy 1, Holy Cross 1 (2OT)
Oct. 8, 2016: Navy 1, Holy Cross 1 (2OT)
Oct. 10, 2015: Navy 1, Holy Cross 0
 
LAST MATCHUP
The two programs last met on September 21, 2019, with the Mids securing a decisive 4-0 home victory over the Crusaders. Nicko West (Mansfield, Texas) recorded a pair of goals to pace the Navy attack in addition to Jacob Williams (Sr., Millersville, Md.) and Ben Nicholas (Cornwall, Conn.) each tallying a score.
 
The Navy defense limited Holy Cross to just seven shots for the match and kept all seven away from Ian Bramblett (Easley, S.C.) as he was not forced to make a save in what was the Midshipmen's fifth shutout of the year.
 
NAVY PRIMER
Overall Record: 7-1-1
Conference Record: 2-1-0
Home Record: 5-0-0
Away Record: 2-1-1
Neutral Record: 0-0-0
Streak: W2
Head Coach: Tim O'Donohue I 16th Season (200-61-33), Sixth Season at Navy (35-40-10)
 
SCOUTING THE MIDSHIPMEN
LEADING THE CHARGE: With a goal and an assist against Lafayette, Paris leads the way for the Navy attack with 12 points on four goals and four assists. The sophomore forward has now tallied a score while assisting on another in three of the last four games.
 
David Jackson (So., Cypress, Texas) ranks second on the team with eight points on three goals and two assists followed by Baba Kallie (So., Coatesville, Pa.) with six points on three scores. Williams leads the charge in shots (41) and shots on goal (16) along with having three points on a goal and an assist this season.
 
KEEPER COUNT: Tyler Fahning (Sr., Victoria, Minn.), one of the top goalkeepers in the nation this season, yielded two scores against Lafayette, marking just the second time this season the senior has allowed two scores in 2021.
 
In total, Fahning has allowed just six goals while tallying 26 saves for a .813 save percentage and a 0.63 goals against average over 855:22 minutes played.
 
WINNING WAYS: With its win over Lafayette on Wednesday, Navy improved to 27-7-3 over its last 37 games, the best record in the Patriot League over that span. Additionally, the .833 overall win percentage is the best among Patriot League teams this season.
 
ON THE ATTACK: The Midshipmen offense has proven to be one of the most formidable offensive units in the Patriot League in 2021, outscoring opponents 16-6 in addition to outshooting those same foes in total shots 148-88 (+60) and shots on goal 60-34 (+26). The Mids are averaging 1.78 goals per game along with having an average of 16.4 shots per game.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE RANKINGS: Entering the weekend, Navy ranks among the top offensive teams in the Patriot League. The Midshipmen rank first in total shots (148) and shots per game average (16.44) while sitting second in goals per game average (1.78) and third in goals scored (16). In the invididual ranks, Williams ranks first in total shots (41) and shots per game average (4.56) in addition to Paris being tied for second in points, goals and points per game average.
 
Defensively, the stout Midshipmen unit is first in the league in goals allowed (6), goals allowed per game (0.67), team goals against average (0.63) and shutouts (5). Among Patriot League goalkeepers, Fahning leads the way in shutouts while ranking second in goals against average (0.63) and goals allowed (6).
 
NATIONAL STANDING: In addition to its standing in the Patriot League, Navy ranks among the top teams in the nation on the offensive end ranking 13th in shots per game and 26th in shots on goal per game. Defensively, the Midshipmen sit 19th in save percentage and team goals against average.
 
Among the individual rankings, Williams ranks third in the nation in shots per game and 18th in shots on goal per game. Fahning is seventh in the nation in shutouts and 22nd in goals against average.
 
ROUNDING OUT THE ATTACK: Rounding out the top offensive performers in 2021 for Navy is the quartet of Jason Aoyama (So., Narberth, Pa.), Charlie Kriel (Fr., Severna Park, Md.), Matt Nocita (Sr., Porter Ranch, Calif.) and JD Wagner (Jr., Medford Lakes, N.J.) who have tallied one goal apiece this season. Zach Wagner joined the group on Wednesday with his game-winning score, the first goal of his collegiate career.
 
STIFLING THE OPPOSITION: Equal to the efforts of the Navy attack this season has been that of its defense. The Midshipmen backline has limited opponents to just six goals through nine games for an average of just 0.67 goals per game. Additionally, opponents have averaged just 9.8 shots per game and 3.8 shots on goal per game.
 
MULTI-SCORE AFFAIRS: Scoring two or more goals has proven to be a lethal formula for Navy this season, having an undefeated record of 5-0-1 in games when it scores two or more times. Additionally, under the direction of Tim O'Donohue (since 2016), the Mids have a record of 25-3-1 when tallying a multi-score effort.
 
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: The Midshipmen have proven to be a formidable opponent this season, especially when playing at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. In home games this season, Navy has a perfect 5-0-0 record in addition to outscoring opponents 10-3 in those games.
 
UNDER PRESSURE: Following its 3-2, double-overtime victory over Lafayette, the Midshipmen improved to 2-0-1 in overtime games this season.
 
O'DONOHUE REACHES 200: With Wednesday's victory, O'Donohue reached the 200-win landmark with a career record of 200-61-33 in his 16th season as a head coach. In his sixth season at the helm of the Navy men's soccer program, O'Donohue spent 10 seasons (2001-10) as the head coach at Division III Stevens Insitute of Technology where he compiled a record of 165-21-23.
 
HOLY CROSS PRIMER
Overall Record: 6-2-2
Conference Record: 3-0-0
Home Record: 5-0-0
Away Record: 1-2-2
Neutral Record: 0-0-0
Streak: W2
Head Coach: Marco Koolman I 25th Season (252-159-52), 10th Season at Holy Cross (51-84-24)
 
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
LAST TIME OUT: Holy Cross is coming off a 3-1, Patriot-League victory over Colgate, improving its conference record to a perfect 3-0-0 this season. Dylan Scanley and Jon Klein both tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Holy Cross attack while goalkeeper Jimmy Joyce recorded three saves while allowing one score.
 
ON THE ATTACK: Evan Jones leads the Crusader offense through 10 games with 12 points on four goals and four assists. Max Krause ranks second on the team with nine points on two goals and five assists while Scanley is third with eight points on three goals and two assists.
 
IN NET: Scanley has started all 10 games for Holy Cross in goal, allowing 12 goals while recording 29 saves for a .707 save percentage and a 1.15 goals against average in 941:21 minutes played.
 
UP NEXT
Navy will travel to take part in the 10th edition of the Army-Navy Cup hosted in Chester, Pa. at Subaru Park with opening kick set for 7 p.m. In addition to being a Patriot League contest, the game will be a Star match as part of the annual Star Series presented by USAA. Tickets for the contest are on sale and can be purchased HERE.