Box Score ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Peppering the opposition with 18 total shots in its 2023 home opener, the Navy men's soccer team (1-1-0) used its offense to secure a 3-0 win over VMI (0-2-0) on Monday night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
A late first-half tally from junior
Connor Walcott and a pair of second-half scores by senior
David Jackson off penalty kicks propelled the Midshipmen to their first victory of the season, as Navy claimed a home-opening win for the fifth-straight season.
Despite two early chances by the Keydets, the Mids pushed the tempo offensively in the opening 15 minutes of action, nearly taking a lead in the 14th minute when freshman
Victor Saade headed a corner kick towards the left post that VMI's Zack Murphy had to stop. Navy then had another scoring chance thwarted when a Keydet defender slid to stop a low on-target shot from senior
Baba Kallie in the 25th minute.
Continuing to barrage the VMI net, the Mids finally broke through in the 43rd minute when Walcott raced into the right side of the box off a pass from sophomore
A.J. Schuetz, sending a shot past Murphy to the left corner for his first collegiate goal.
A frantic end to the first half saw VMI try to even the score, but the Navy defense held firm just long enough, while the second half got going when Colin Blandford's foul in the box brought about a Navy penalty kick in the 55th minute. Continuing his dominance at the PK line, Jackson rifled the ball to the left corner as Murphy dove right, widening the Mids' lead.
The teams traded scoring opportunities as the second half continued, with a pair of VMI shot going just over the crossbar, but another foul in the box by Blandford led to another penalty kick for Navy in the 72nd minute. Jackson this time went right as Murphy dove left, putting the Mids up, 3-0, and earning himself his first collegiate brace.
Holding the Keydets in check the rest of the way, junior goalkeeper
Pierce Holbrook ended his night with two saves for his first shutout of the campaign, while VMI's Murphy managed one save on his end of the field.
Head Coach Tim O'Donohue Comments
"Overall, we had a really good performance. VMI is a very physical team that challenged us, but we were able to rebound from a tough opening game. Our guys were finally themselves in the second half, and it led to a lot of good individual performances."
Match Notes
• Navy improves to 5-0-0 in the all-time series with VMI, with Monday marking the fourth shutout by the Mids in the series.
• The Mids have now won six of their eight home openers under head coach
Tim O'Donohue.
• Navy is 13-7-3 in home openers since the completion of the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in 2001.
• Jackson is the first Navy player to score multiple goals in a game since Jacob Williams tallied a three-goal night against Army on Oct. 9, 2021.
• Holbrook picked up his ninth career shutout.
• O'Donohue is now just two wins shy of the 50-win milestone at Navy.
Up Next
Navy continues its homestand against Howard on Friday, Sept. 1 and Liberty on Sunday, Sept. 3. Both games are set for a 7 p.m. start at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
