ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy men's soccer team (0-0-3) equalized an early deficit to post a 1-1 draw with Howard (0-2-1) on Friday night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility, extending the Midshipmen's unbeaten start to the 2025 season to three games.
 
After the Bison used a set-piece goal in the opening three minutes of the game to grab the lead, the Mids attacked for the next 87 minutes and outshot their opponent by a 22-5 edge, breaking through with Andrew Schug's 75th-minute equalizer and nearly pulling out Navy's first win of the year in the final moments of the contest.
 
Giving the Mids a handful from the opening seconds, Howard quickly struck first by drawing a corner kick at 3' that Naim Robinson sent into the box, with Zach Simmons heading a pass to Roman Stallings that Stallings was able to get past Navy goalkeeper Dylan Carmody. The Bison almost extended the lead at 7', but Carmody was able to stop Daniil Kaban's chance, while Navy's first shot on target from Duncan Sullivan was knocked away by Howard keeper Ireal Wyze-Daly in the 16th minute.
 
Having their next five shots either blocked or sent wide, Navy almost evened the score when Gavin McBride knocked down a loose ball and spun a shot that Wyze-Daly had to swallow up at 37', while McBride was stopped once again by Wyze-Daly in the 42nd minute.
 
Putting two more shots on Wyze-Daly at 52' and 57' to open the second half, Navy had shots from A.J. Schuetz and Schug blocked in a short span at 74', but the Mids retained control and reset, with Jalen Grant crossing a ball from the left side to McBride, who then back-kicked a pass to a crashing Schug for a right-corner goal at 75'.
 
Looking to turn the tables and keep pressing for a game-winner, Navy saw Schuetz put a shot high at 80' and then denied by Wyze-Daly at 87, while Will Cawlfield's chance at 88' also sailed off-target, Keane Brown was stopped by Wyze-Daly with just under a minute remaining and Jorge Mayorga sent a shot over the cage as the final countdown began, capping off a flurry of chances for the Mids.
 
Carmody made one save in the effort while Wyze-Daly registered seven stops.
 
Head Coach Tim O'Donohue Comments
"Another draw was not what we were looking for, but once again the performance was very good with seven or eight big chances out of our 22 shots. It was unfortunate to give up a corner goal in the first five minutes and their goalkeeper had a really good performance, but we have to keep getting better. We are still unbeaten and there are a lot of wins in front of us."
 
Match Notes
• Navy is now 13-12-5 in the all-time series with Howard.
• Navy's three-game unbeaten start is the best for the program since a five-game undefeated streak to begin the 2021 campaign.
• Schug's goal was the ninth of his career, while his five points on the season matches his total from 2024.
• McBride's assist marked the rookie's first collegiate point.
• With a 10-5 corner-kick advantage, the Mids' 10 corner kicks are the most for Navy since 10 corners on Aug. 30, 2024 against FDU.
• Navy's 22 shots are the most since a 22-shot total against Lehigh on Oct. 15, 2022.
 
Up Next
Navy will continue the homestand on Monday, hosting Niagara in a 1 p.m. Labor Day matinee.