Navy Controls Tempo but Settles for Scoreless Draw Against Temple
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Navy men’s soccer controlled much of Saturday night’s match against Temple, but the Midshipmen could not turn that possession and pressure into a goal, settling for a 0-0 draw at Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
The result moved Navy to 1-2-2 on the season while Temple moved to 0-3-2. Navy held a 14-8 advantage in total shots and put eight attempts on goal, but Temple goalkeeper Gavin Atkinson stopped all eight to prevent the Midshipmen from earning their second consecutive victory. Navy sophomore goalkeeper Sam Clark and the Midshipmen defense answered at the other end, producing a second straight clean sheet.
Navy controls the opening half
Navy established itself as the aggressor early, producing eight shots during the first half while Temple managed only two. The Midshipmen used possession to keep the Owls under pressure and generated one of their better opportunities in the 20th minute after a Temple foul created a dangerous free kick. Duncan Sullivan drove the ensuing attempt low toward goal, forcing Atkinson into a diving save before Alex Galloway sent the rebound over the net.
The Midshipmen continued testing Atkinson as halftime approached. Will Smith, making the first start of his collegiate career, put a header on goal in the 34th minute, but Atkinson made the save. Two minutes later, Will Cawlfield forced another stop as Navy continued searching for the breakthrough without finding it.
Despite Navy’s statistical advantage and extended stretches of possession, the teams entered halftime scoreless. Navy had an 8-2 advantage in shots at the break and had allowed Temple very little room to generate meaningful offense. The problem was finishing, as Atkinson consistently handled the opportunities that reached his goal.
Atkinson keeps the Midshipmen off the board
Temple opened the second half with Carlos Rojas sending an attempt high in the 50th minute, but Navy soon regained control. Nick Gallucci put another attempt on frame in the 61st minute, only for Atkinson to make the save. Gavin McBride followed with an opportunity in the 66th minute, and Atkinson once again prevented Navy from taking the lead.
Navy continued piling up opportunities as the match entered its final stages. Sullivan drove another shot through traffic in the 77th minute that Atkinson knocked down, and freshman Cohen Nance tested the Temple goalkeeper three minutes later. Yul Hong then put a header on target in the 83rd minute, but Atkinson collected it for his eighth save of the night.
Those numbers tell much of the story. Navy finished with 14 shots, eight shots on goal and eight saves forced, while Temple recorded eight shots with three reaching the target. The Midshipmen had enough opportunities to win the match, but Atkinson delivered every time Navy appeared close to finally breaking through.
Temple threatens late
For as much as Navy controlled the match, Temple nearly stole it during a dangerous sequence in the final minutes. Lukas Stefaner got an opportunity from around the top of the box in the 84th minute, but Clark deflected the shot over the goal. Temple kept the pressure alive, and Luc Haller had another attempt blocked later in the minute.
The Owls generated another dangerous chance in the 85th minute after Navy was unable to completely clear the ball. Quint Van Roij sent an attempt toward goal, but Nate Stewart cleared it away for a team save. Neither side recorded another shot over the final five minutes, leaving the match scoreless.
It was an important defensive stand for a Navy team that had spent most of the night pushing forward. The Midshipmen did not allow their frustration at the offensive end to turn into a late defensive mistake. That allowed Navy to at least come away with a draw from a match in which it probably deserved more based on the balance of play.
Clark continues impressive run
Clark’s performance continued an impressive stretch since taking over in goal. The sophomore extended his scoreless streak to 247 minutes, 46 seconds, giving him consecutive shutouts after Navy defeated Presbyterian 3-0 in its previous match. Clark later earned Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week honors for his work against Presbyterian and Temple.
Clark stepped into the starting role after Dylan Carmody suffered an injury earlier in the season and has quickly provided stability. Following the Temple match, Clark owned a 0.63 goals-against average and an .846 save percentage, with the latter ranking second in the Patriot League entering Navy’s next match. His .500 shutout percentage led conference goalkeepers.
The development of Navy’s defense is particularly encouraging considering how the season started. The Midshipmen surrendered seven goals in their opener against UC San Diego and two more in a loss to George Washington. Navy has now responded by shutting out Presbyterian and Temple in consecutive matches.
Midshipmen building momentum
Navy did not get the result it wanted Saturday, but the Midshipmen have started stabilizing after a difficult beginning to the season. Navy opened with a 7-0 loss at UC San Diego before earning a 2-2 draw against San Diego State. The Mids then fell 2-0 against George Washington before responding with a 3-0 victory over Presbyterian and Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Temple.
That gives Navy a two-match unbeaten streak and, perhaps more importantly, consecutive shutouts heading into the next portion of the schedule. The Midshipmen are now 2-1-2 all-time against Temple. Smith’s first collegiate start also gave Navy another young player valuable experience as the team moves closer to Patriot League competition.
Navy next heads to Emmitsburg to face Mount St. Mary’s on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The matchup begins a three-game road swing and serves as Navy’s final tune-up before opening Patriot League play at Holy Cross.
MSB Take
This feels like a match Navy should be disappointed not to win, but there is plenty to like about the way the Midshipmen played. Navy controlled long stretches, doubled Temple in shots on goal and repeatedly created opportunities in dangerous areas. Sometimes the opposing goalkeeper simply has an outstanding night, and Atkinson’s eight-save shutout was the biggest reason Navy walked away with one point instead of a victory.
The bigger development may be what is happening defensively. After allowing nine goals across the losses to UC San Diego and George Washington, Navy has now gone two consecutive matches without allowing one. Clark has looked comfortable in goal, and the Midshipmen showed Saturday that even when their offense cannot finish, their defense can keep them in the match.
Navy now needs to turn that control into goals more consistently. If the Midshipmen continue generating eight shots on target in matches, the results should eventually follow. With Patriot League play approaching, Navy appears to be finding its footing at the right time.
