Nov. 10, 2007

Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Army's Chris Conklin scored in the 96th minute to deal Navy a heartbreaking 2-1 setback in the men's soccer season finale on a chilly Saturday night in Annapolis. The Mids end their season with a 7-8-2 overall record, including an 0-7-0 mark in the Patriot League. Army concludes its season with a 9-7-2 record and a 1-5-1 league mark. It marked the second straight season that Army has defeated Navy in overtime.

The game drew 1,176 fans, the sixth-largest men's soccer crowd in Glenn Warner Soccer Facility history and the seventh-largest (men's & women's) crowd in facility history. For the season, the Mids drew 6,257 fans, for an average of 782 fans per game. Both numbers are school records.

The Mids struggled to get anything going offensively, but scored the contest's first goal in the 36th minute. Senior Travis King (Loveland, Ohio) took a crossing pass from classmate Justin Waskey (Georgetown, Ky.). The ball got over the Army defense, and King played a low shot from left to right that found the net for his third goal of the season. The helper was Waskey's fourth of the season.

However, just eight minutes later, Army tied the score at one after a miscommunication by the Navy defense. Michael Leach scored his first goal of the year when seniors Thomas Jenkins (Franklin, N.C.) and Will Riordon (Oak Ridge, N.C.) got their signals crossed up. Leach grabbed a loose ball just outside the box and slid a shot into the open net to tie the game at one.

The teams had very few solid chances in the second half, but Navy may have had the best. With about 10 seconds left in regulation, Waskey sent a pass into the middle that King sent just wide of the right post that would have won the game for Navy. In the overtime session, Navy drew its first corner kick of the game, but Army counter-attacked and Conklin took a pass from Daniel Newell on the left side. Jenkins came out to cut off the angle, but Conklin found a seam and sent a shot towards the goal that found the back of the net for the game-winner in the 96th minute.

Navy mustered just seven shots for the contest, while Army had 10. Jenkins recorded three saves in goal. Army was whistled for 18 fouls, while Navy was called for 17.

Navy struggled all season long in Patriot League play, being outscored 16-2 during the seven league games. Over the last 15 games in the league, Navy is just 1-12-2. Saturday's loss marks the first time since 1991-92 that Army has won two straight games in the series. Navy still owns a 35-26-13 series advantage over the Black Knights.

It was the final game in the careers of 10 Navy seniors. Adam Pennington (Tampa, Fla.) and Doug DeVuono (Racine, Wis.) were the team's leaders in points (8) and goals (4). Mark Garcia led Navy with five assists on the season.

# GO NAVY #