ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy men's soccer is back home Tuesday night as it hosts No. 21 James Madison at 7 p.m. from the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
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 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. 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.
The Midshipmen were originally slated to open their 2021 exhibition schedule Saturday against Virginia in Charlottesville, but the contest was postponed due to inclement weather.
Navy enters Tuesday's exhibition following a 4-2-1 campaign in 2020-21 that resulted in the Mids' narrowly missing the four-team Patriot League Tournament. Navy returns seven starters from last season along with 11 letter winners.
Matt Nocita highlights the group of core returners for Navy after the senior garnered several postseason honors, including being named First-Team All-Patriot League and Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Along with Nocita, fellow seniors
Jacob Williams and
Tyler Collins were named First-Team All-Patriot League.
Joining Williams among the top offensive returners for Navy is
David Jackson, who received honors as the 2020-21 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, along with being a Third-Team All-Conference selection after tallying a team-best six points, scoring two goals and dishing out two assists.
Joining Jackson in the midfield is the pairing of
Cristian Coelho and
Sidney Paris. Coelho led all position players last year with 635 minutes played while starting all seven games, while Paris started in six of the Mids' seven matches, playing a total of 490 minutes.
Rounding out the top returning midfielders for Navy is team captain
Joe Alex, who played in six matches last year.
In goal, Navy is tasked with replacing Third-Team All-Patriot League honoree
Ian Bramblett. Bramblett played all 650 minutes last year for the Mids. Returners
Tyler Fahning,
Thomas Pearson and
Nick Sigman, along with newcomer
Pierce Holbrook, will compete for the starting position in goal during the preseason.
James Madison was named the No. 21-ranked team in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll after tallying a 5-1-3 record in 2020-21. The Dukes are the reigning Colonial Athletic Association Men's Soccer Tournament Champions, earning JMU its third-consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.
James Madison returns Luca Erhardt, who tallied a team a team-high seven points on three goals and one assist last season, along with Ethan Taylor, who was second on the team with four points on two goals.
The Dukes are tasked with replacing their starting goalkeeper TJ Busch, who was named a 2020-21 First-Team All-CAA selection and Defender of the Year.
Navy and James Madison have played 14 regular-season contests in a series that dates back to the 1979 season, the Midshipmen have a 7-6-1 edge over the Dukes.
Following Tuesday's match, Navy is set to continue its exhibition slate Saturday, August 21 as it hosts Drexel at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility with opening kick set for 7 p.m.
