<p>Navy To Rely on Experience and Talented Newcomers in 2007</p>
<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Coming off last year’s disappointing 5-9-2 record, head coach Rich Miranda and the Midshipmen look to rebound in 2007. Despite losing six starters to graduation, Miranda feels the pieces are in place to surge to the upper division of the Patriot League. The reason for the optimism is a talented group of underclassmen and strong senior leadership, highlighted by team captain Will Riordon. The Mids were devastated a year ago with injuries, but with the majority of the team healthy entering preseason camp, Miranda likes the makeup and chemistry of this year’s squad.</p>
<p>“I would like to think we are a little more talented than last year’s team, and I feel that the team chemistry is better, which I think will make us a better team,” said Miranda, as he enters his third year in charge. “Our spring season was outstanding in terms of developing that chemistry. We gave them a program to follow over the summer and I have confidence that the guys have stuck to that. They are a very tight group and know the deal. They don’t want to let each other down.”</p>
<p>The Forwards
Miranda has a host of forwards that could step up and take the reigns of the offense. Unlike last year, there is not one dynamic scorer (McKenzie Plank scored eight of Navy’s 18 goals), but a group ready to prove themselves.</p>
<p>“We aren’t going to have the guy that scores 10 goals this year, but we have a good group of players that will get three, four goals each,” said Miranda. “It will definitely be a team effort on the offensive end.”</p>
<p>Leading the way will be senior Doug DeVuono. DeVuono, who starred on the Navy club team before it was dropped two years ago, hasn’t scored in his Navy career, but had an outstanding spring season and finds himself in the right spot at the right time more often than not.</p>
<p>Helping out will be senior Travis King, who is Navy’s current career-leading goal scorer with six goals on just 17 shots, and junior Adam Pennington, a big, strong player who spent the previous two years on the defensive unit. </p>
<p>Sophomore Andrew Garcia also figures to be in the mix after a promising freshman campaign. Miranda feels that if he can score early in the season and develop confidence, he has the potential to explode onto the scene.</p>
<p>A pair of freshmen may also bolster the Navy offense in Raphael Asenime and Mike Porcelli. Asenime is a big, athletic player that Miranda feels needs to be on the field. Porcelli played for a very successful club team and has the potential to help significantly.</p>
<p>The Midfielders
A mix of senior leadership and and experience combined with young talent and excitement figures to make the midfield unit one of Navy’s strengths this year.</p>
<p>Seniors Eric Gorden, Justin Waskey and Ryan Trespalacios have appeared in 95 games at the position and will give Miranda the leadership that he likes there. </p>
<p>Gorden had an outstanding spring in which Miranda called him the team’s best player during that time. He has the potential to be the “set-up” guy or point guard and can play all over the field. Waskey has been a solid player in his three years, but Miranda is looking for more offensive production than in years past for the Georgetown, Ky., native. Trespalacios has been injured for the majority of the last two years, but when healthy, scored a pair of goals in just 10 games as a freshman.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, three talented sophomores and two freshmen figure to aid the unit.</p>
<p>Cash Elston was off to a fantastic freshman season when a broken leg sidelined him just five games into the season. Elston has the potential to be a dominant player at the position, but showed signs of tentativeness in the spring. </p>
<p>“It will be interesting to see how he bounces back,” said Miranda. “He was a little timid in the spring, but if he can come back early with some confidence from the injury and trust that it is healed, he could be an outstanding player this year.”</p>
<p>Mark Garcia was a pleasant surprise for Miranda last year, and has the ability to go one-on-one with defenders and beat them downfield.</p>
<p>Chris Marino was one of the best players on the team late last year as a freshman, and Miranda feels now is the time for him to step up his offensive game.</p>
<p>Freshmen Sam Lepley and Josh Pike also figure to be in the mix, mostly in a reserve role.</p>
<p>The Defensemen
Despite losing three of four defensive starters to graduation last year, Miranda feels this unit may be the team’s strength. </p>
<p>“We feel that we have a very consistent, steady and reliable group this year,” said Miranda. “They won’t blow you away with great plays, but they make the right plays and don’t make many mistakes.”</p>
<p>Leading the way will be the centerbacks - senior team captain Will Riordon and sophomore Scott Robertson. Miranda says that the two players “grew accustomed to each other in the spring, play very similar games and even look alike,” referring to both players’ reddish hair.</p>
<p>On the sides, six other players, including a pair of freshmen, could step up and contribute. The likely candidate on the left side is senior Anthony Parker, who has moved back from midfield. He was forced to play the position late last year due to injury and played well enough to stay in the back. Miranda notes that Parker is very good in the air and could be dangerous on the offensive end as well on corner kicks and set pieces.</p>
<p>On the right side, three players will likely be fighting for that final spot. Senior Brett Copare had a solid spring, but will be pushed by sophomores Matt Tapajcik and Chris Schneider. The latter two need to develop some consistency, but could become key figures this year.</p>
<p>A pair of freshmen, Alex Foskett and Andy Hampson, will also contribute.</p>
<p>The Goalkeepers
Despite having three experienced goalkeepers on the roster, this position is a big question mark. The reason being is that injuries decimated this position a year ago.</p>
<p>“In my 20 years, I have never seen anything like that as far as goalie injuries,” said Miranda. “We need to first of all, get healthy and then have someone step up and take control of the position. Defensively, we would be much better if we knew who our goalie was every game.”</p>
<p>Seniors Thomas Jenkins and Evan Barnes both saw action last year, before injuries cut their seasons short. Jenkins, who was the starter as a sophomore in 2005, opened the year in goal, but was able to only play in the first two games of the year. During his sophomore year, Jenkins recorded a 1.22 GAA and a 4-2-1 record. Jenkins suffered a setback this summer, but will be ready to go in the fall.</p>
<p>Barnes stepped in and started the next 11 games, before suffering a season-ending injury. Barnes recorded a 1.28 GAA and a .746 save percentage while recording a 3-6-2 mark and two shutouts.</p>
<p>Lastly, junior Nolan Grebb started the last three games of the year, posting a 1.89 GAA and a .684 save percentage. Grebb’s lone win came in a 1-0 shutout at Patriot League preseason favorite American on Oct. 24.</p>
<p>“The position is really up for grabs,” said Miranda. “We are just looking for someone to step up and take control.”</p>
<p>The Schedule
Miranda has toned down the out-of-conference schedule a bit from last year, but it still provides a very stiff challenge. The highlight of the non-conference home schedule comes on the opening weekend of the year, as the Mids host Temple and Air Force on Aug. 31 and Sept. 2. The contest against Air Force, which will be aired by CSTV, will be Navy’s first home game against the Falcons since the 1983 season and the first meeting with the Falcons anywhere since 1993. The Mids will also visit Florida for a pair of games and will travel to West Virginia to face the Mountaineers. West Virginia was the Big East Champion and the No. 6 national seed in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.</p>
<p>This year’s schedule marks the first time since 1983 that Navy will host both Air Force and Army in the same season, as the Mids host the Black Knights on Nov. 10.</p>
<p>In the Patriot League, Miranda says that Lehigh and Bucknell will be the teams to beat.</p>
<p>“For us to be successful, we have to have success early and gain some confidence. We have to get off to a good start entering the Patriot League,” said Miranda. “The race is wide open. There are a ton of one-goal games in this league and the team that scores first typically wins. All the games are competitive and there is a lot of parity in the Patriot League. We hope that we can reverse some of those one-goal games from a year ago and be there in the end.”</p>