ANNAPOLIS, Md. – While controlling the offensive tempo for over 80 minutes, the Navy men's soccer team (1-2-2) was unable to break through as it ended a three-game homestand with a 0-0 draw against Temple (0-3-2) on Saturday evening at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
Backed by goalkeeper
Sam Clark posting his second clean sheet in as many games, the Midshipmen kept the Owls in check for almost the whole duration of the scoreless contest by outshooting the visitors, 14-8, but Temple's Gavin Atkinson tallied eight saves to stymie the Navy attack and keep both teams in the game late.
The Mids opened the match aggressively with eight shots in the first half, as Navy used a heavy possession edge to create several quality chances. A Temple foul set up
Duncan Sullivan to rip a free kick low and hard at 20' that forced Atkinson to dive for the stop, while
Alex Galloway's rebound opportunity off the save went over the cage.
Navy continued to push in the opening half when
Will Smith put a header on net at 34' that Atkinson swallowed up while Atkinson stopped
Will Cawlfield in the 36th minute to keep it scoreless going into halftime.
While Carlos Rojas generated an early shot at 50' of the second half that sailed high, Navy regained the momentum and saw
Nick Gallucci rip a shot on target at 61' that Atkinson collected while a
Gavin McBride chance was saved by Atkinson in the 66th minute. Sullivan had another chance when he powered a shot through traffic at 77' that Atkinson knocked down while
Cohen Nance was stopped by the Temple keeper in the 80th minute and
Yul Hong's header was caught at 83'.
Making a late push, the Owls got the ball to Lukas Stefaner at the top of the box at 84', but his high shot was deflected over the net by Clark. Temple then saw Luc Haller's shot blocked later in the 84th minute, but Navy's clearances failed and Quint Van Roij lifted a shot that
Nate Stewart had to kick away for the team save at 85'. Neither team could produce a shot over the final five minutes, sealing the scoreless decision.
Match Notes
• Navy is now 2-1-2 in the all-time series with Temple
•
Will Smith made his first collegiate start on Saturday, slotting in the starting XI at forward.
• Clark has now posted 247:46 consecutive scoreless minutes in net.
Up Next
Navy opens a three-game road swing on Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. contest at Mount St. Mary's.
