HAMILTON, N.Y. – With senior David Jackson scoring the eventual game-winner Saturday evening at Beyer-Small '76 Field, the Navy men's soccer team (6-7-4, 3-2-3 PL) used a 1-0 victory over Colgate (6-9-2, 3-3-2 PL) to help itself secure a berth in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament.
 
Backed by Jackson's goal in the 45th minute and a shutout from junior goalkeeper Pierce Holbrook, as well as other results from around the league, the Midshipmen clinched a spot in the Patriot League Tournament for the third consecutive season and grabbed their first win since Sept. 30.
 
The Mids will now have a chance to earn home-field advantage for the league quarterfinals on Nov. 4, as a win in the regular-season finale - or a tie coupled with an American loss to Loyola - would lock Navy into either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed.
 
After generating shots in the 19th, 21st and 22nd minutes, Navy then stepped up defensively by turning away six Colgate chances over the final 20 minutes of the first half, highlighted by Holbrook stonewalling Drew Stephans on a shot to the right post in the 36th minute. With the defense holding strong, the Mids were able to make a push offensively in the final minute of the half, as senior Jason Aoyama beat a Colgate defender and raced down the sideline before crossing a pass over to Jackson, as Jackson finished the play with a shot towards the left post from just outside the six-yard box.
 
Colgate tried to answer in the second half, but Holbrook once again made the stop with a diving save off Alejandro Coury's free kick at 52', while Adam Fam sent a shot high in the 56th minute. Navy senior Baba Kallie looked to extend the Mids' lead in the 62nd minute off a Connor Walcott free kick, but Colgate's Andrew Cooke made the save to keep the game at 1-0, while Cooke did the same to A.J. Schuetz at 68'. With Navy continuing to counter Colgate's chances with its own, freshman Nate Stewart nearly gave the Mids an insurance goal in the 87th minute when the ball found him to the left of the net, and his shot sailed wide of the left post. The Mids' night was not done, as the Navy defense successfully turned aside a Colgate free kick in the 89th minute and then a corner kick in the dying seconds of the game to close out the win
 
Picking up his sixth shutout of the campaign, Holbrook also grabbed his fourth clean sheet in league play by making two saves. Cooke made a pair of saves himself on the other end.
 
Head Coach Tim O'Donohue Comments
"I am really proud of the guys tonight and I'm happy to clinch our spot in the tournament. Colgate is a good team and really tough road opponent, as their field is always a tough place to play at, but we put a full-90 in defensively to pick up a much-needed win. Now our focus turns to Lafayette on Wednesday, as we try to earn the right to a home playoff game."
 
Match Notes
• Navy's win brings the all-time series with Colgate even at 15-15-6, while also extending the Mids' current unbeaten streak over the Raiders to four consecutive games.
• The postseason berth means Navy will play in its 14th overall Patriot League Tournament and its fourth league tournament in the last five seasons.
• Navy's three-straight Patriot League Tournament berths match a program record set in 1995-97.
• Holbrook is now the seventh Navy goalie since 1975 to have back-to-back 60-save seasons.
• Jackson is now the first Navy player to score nine goals in a season since Jamie Dubyoski had nine tallies in 2014, while Jackson's 23 points this season are the most by a Navy player since Dubyoski racked up 24 points during that 2014 campaign.
• Navy is 12-4-5 over the last four seasons when Jackson records a goal.
• With his assist on Saturday night, Aoyama matched his career high of seven points.
 
Up Next
Navy hosts Lafayette on Wednesday night to conclude the regular season. The Mids and Leopards are slated for a 7 p.m. start from Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.