ANNAPOLIS, Md. – David Jackson (Fr., Cypress, Texas) scored his second goal of the season in the 33rd minute to propel Navy men's soccer (3-0-0, 2-0-0 Patriot League) to a 1-0 win over Bucknell (1-3-0, 1-3-0 Patriot League) in the Midshipmen's first Patriot League South Division game of the season at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
 
With the win on Saturday, Navy now has six points in its Patriot League contests, which is tied with American for most within the South Division. The division also has four teams tied with three points within divisional matches as American leads the South Division with six points over its first three matches.
 
"There was a little rust that came off today. We have not played a game in 27 days and we are missing a few guys, but I am proud of the team," head coach Tim O'Donohue said. "This team has shown great resilience. I think we can play better, but what I told the guys was that I am proud of their character, proud to get back into the swing of things. We are going to have to pick up our game on Wednesday against Loyola and the guys know that.
 
"Bucknell is a good team, we lost to them last time here in the Patriot League Tournament. They are really good on set pieces, really tricky to play against and sometimes they have thrown us off our rhythm and they did a little bit today. But to get the three points and get going within in our division, I am happy with."
 
After a quiet first five minutes of play, the Bison tried to pressure the Navy backline as they registered two shots – one on goal – and a pair of corner kicks over the next 10 minutes of action. However, the Midshipmen limited Bucknell's scoring opportunities with the first shot on goal coming from nearly 40 yards out. Wyatt Millard (Sr., Columbia, S.C.) had the first shot attempt of the day for Navy in the 16th minute, but his shot from the left wing, sailed just wide of the right post.
 
The Midshipmen continued to find scoring chances within the run of play as Bayne Bentley (Jr., Austin, Texas) sent in a cross from the left wing and Baba Kallie (Fr., Coatesville, Pa.) rose above the defender looking for the opening goal, but the ball was just out over his head.
 
Bucknell finished the first 30 minutes of play with four corner kicks and four shots. After a foul in the 26th minute led to a Bucknell free kick in from 25 yards out, Ian Bramblett (Sr., Easley, S.C.) made his second save of the afternoon to keep the game scoreless.
 
Following the scoring chance from the Bison, Kallie continued to pressure the Bucknell defense and he was pulled down in the penalty area and the Midshipmen were awarded the penalty kick. Jackson took the attempt for Navy and with the goalkeeper diving to the right post, Jackson slotted his shot toward the left side of the goal and the Midshipmen took a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute.
 
Following the goal, Navy kept its foot on the gas as Jacob Williams (Jr., Millersville, Md.) had a shot at goal but his attempt was blocked in the 36th minute. As time was winding down in the opening half, Williams had another chance to double Navy's lead, but his diving header from 10 yards out was poked away by Bennett Schwartz in the Bucknell goal.
 
Six of Bucknell's eight corner kicks in the contest came in the first 45 minutes of play and both teams finished the second half with two shots on target.
 
Navy searched for the insurance goal in the early going of the second half as Millard drilled a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that rattled off the crossbar. Then in the 57th minute, Kallie was behind the backline once again, but his shot was stopped by Schwartz.
 
The Midshipmen continued to pressure the Bison as they finished with 11 shots in the second half but had two shots hit the crossbar and Kallie's attempt in the 57th minute was the lone shot on goal in the second half for Navy.
 
Bucknell had three of its four second-half shots within the final 10 minutes of the game where the Midshipmen's defense blocked one attempt and Bramblett picked up his final save of the night in the 85th minute to seal Navy's 1-0 victory over the Bison.
 
The Midshipmen have now won their last three regular-season matches against Bucknell outscoring the Bison 7-1 over that stretch.
 
Navy continues its Patriot League South Division schedule on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against Loyola at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.