Navy Sports

GreatAmerican · October 11, 2007, 12:48pm

Navy Women’s Cross Country: Mids to Race at Army and Lafayette Invitational This Weekend

For Immediate Release
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Navy to Race at Army and Lafayette Invitational This Weekend

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy women’s cross country team (3-0) will split up its squad to close out the regular season this weekend with a pair of meets on the road. The Midshipmen will head up to West Point, N.Y., to take on Army in the annual Star Meet on Friday at 4:45 p.m. One day later, the Mids will travel to the Lafayette Invitational on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Navy heads on the road this weekend ranked as the ninth-best team in the Mid-Atlantic Region for the third-consecutive week, it was announced by the USTFCCCA on Monday. The Midshipmen were ranked second in the Patriot League Preseason Poll back in August, while Army was predicted for a fifth-place finish this season.

The Midshipmen own a 12-9 advantage in the all-time series over the Black Knights following last year’s impressive 21-38, N-Star victory last season. Navy will look to snap a five-meet skid against Army on the West Point Golf Course, with the visitors last coming away victorious in 1996.

This Friday’s race marks the first of at least two meetings between Navy and Army this season, as they will also race against one another and six other schools at the Patriot League Championship. Navy’s meet on Saturday represents the first time in school history that it will be participating in the Lafayette Invitational at Metzgar Fields.

Looking to guide the Midshipmen across the finish line for the fourth-consecutive meet is Arwyn Becker (Sr./Vail, Colo.). Becker has emerged during her senior campaign to produce three top-25 performances and the third-fastest Navy time in USNA Cross Country Course history during the Salty Seadog Invitational, a 22:47 clocking. In each of her two 6k races this season, she has finished with a time quicker than 23 minutes.

Also providing some leadership at the front of the pack for Navy is team captain Kyleigh Millhouse (Sr./Boiling Springs, Pa.). In last year’s Star Meet, Millhouse finished sixth overall, fourth among the Mids, with a 23:15.36 clocking. This year, the product of Boiling Springs, Pa., has scored in all four meets, including the team’s second-fastest time on two occasions.

The Midshipmen will also count on Erica Ziel (So./Saginaw, Mich.), Maureen Dooley (Jr./Durham, Conn.), Katie Rentz (Fr./San Diego, Calif.), Amy Watson (So./Hampstead, Md.) and Lexa Gass (So./Crescent, Pa.) to provide critical scoring depth this weekend. Each runner has finished among the team’s top-seven competitors at least three times in 2007.

Following this weekend’s action, the Midshipmen will head back to Lafayette’s home course in Easton, Pa., this time for the Patriot League Championship on Saturday, Oct. 27.

GreatAmerican · October 11, 2007, 4:36pm

Special Navy Sports Magazine Show Airs Tonight On 1430 WNAV

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-The Navy Sports Magazine Show, presented by Comcast, will air tonight from 6-7 p.m. on 1430 WNAV in Annapolis. Tonight’s show will feature host and Navy play-by-play announcer Bob Socci, Navy football color analyst Omar Nelson, Pete Medhurst of CSTV and Joe Miller of the Navy Tailgate Show as they discuss all things related to Navy football, including last night’s thrilling overtime victory over Pittsburgh.

The Navy Sports Magazine Show will also air on 1050 WFED (<a href=“http://www.federalnewsradio.com%5B/url%5D”>www.federalnewsradio.com</a>) in Washington, D.C. at 12 noon on Saturday and on 1490 AM and 102.1 FM in Norfolk on Friday at 7 p.m. Navy All-Access will also archive the show and it will be available for subscribers every Friday (<a href=“http://navysports.cstv.com/)%5B/url%5D”>http://navysports.cstv.com/)</a>.

GreatAmerican · October 11, 2007, 4:39pm

For Immediate Release
Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007
Women’s Soccer Contact: Stacie Michaud (410) 293-8773

Midshipmen Travel to Lehigh Valley for Pair of Patriot League Soccer Contests

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy women’s soccer team (7-4-2 / 0-1 Patriot League) will look to get its first conference win of the fall when it travels to the Lehigh Valley to battle Lafayette (3-9-0 / 0-1 PL) and Lehigh (5-4-2 / 0-1 PL) this weekend. The Mids square off against Lafayette on Friday at 7:00 pm before taking on the Mountain Hawks of Lehigh on Sunday at 1:00 pm.

The Midshipmen opened their Patriot League schedule last Friday in Lewisburg, Pa., where they had hoped for a better result. Bison sophomore Molly Linhart scored the game-winning goal in the ninth minute against the Mids, despite Navy playing a solid all-around game on both ends of the field. Navy returned home two days later to post a 3-0 victory over NJIT. Sophomore defender Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio headed a Kristen Laraway (Long Valley, N.J.) corner kick just three minutes into the game to record the third game-winner of her career.

Senior forward Brigitte Fox (La Mesa, Calif.) remains Navy’s biggest scoring threat, booting in five goals this fall, including three game-winners. With her goal against NJIT last week, Fox moved into a tie with Kara Hardebeck (1999-02) for 10th on the Mids’ career scoring list with 55 points (21G, 13A). Sitting ninth on the list is Nadia Sheikh (1999-02) who produced 57 points (15G, 27A). Also scoring in Navy’s victory over NJIT was second-year defender Lauren Bresnahan (Weston, Fla.) who sits alongside Fox and junior forward Sam Schroth (Chester Springs, Pa.) as multiple-goal scorers for the Midshipmen this season. Laraway is Navy’s top assist provider, dealing out four, while team captain Kari Weniger (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and defender Jenn Dunbar (Crofton, Md.) have each recorded three assists.

Navy’s defense is giving up 1.04 goals per game and making stops on 69.6 percent of the shots put on goal. The Mids have given up just one goal in the last three games and two in the last four contests.

Lafayette enters Friday’s matchup against the Midshipmen with a 3-9 record that includes a 2-1 loss at Army in its conference opener last weekend. The Leopards are coming off a 4-0 victory over Saint Peter’s in Jersey City on Tuesday, snapping a six-game losing streak. In addition to Saint Peter’s, Lafayette has beaten Wagner (2-1 OT) and Long Island (2-1 OT).

Eleven of Lafayette’s 13 goals have been scored by seniors Kelly Koreyva and Caroline Tuttle who have six and five goals, respectively. Koreyva, who has scored on 63.6 percent of the shots she has put on goal, has been responsible for all three of the Leopards’ game-winners. Tuttle, meanwhile, has a trio of assists to go along with her five goals this fall. Senior keeper Mary Kate Erdman has spent the majority of the season as Lafayette’s last line of defense, making eight starts in nine appearances. She has surrendered 16 goals (1.88 GAA) and has made 43 saves (.729 save percentage).

Navy has lost just once to Lafayette in the 15-game series history. The Leopards earned their lone victory, a 7-1 decision, at home in 1993, Navy’s first season as a varsity sport. During the Mids’ 14-game winning streak, Navy has outscored Lafayette, 42-7. Over the last six games, Navy has outscored the Leopards, 17-1, giving up a goal in its 2-1 win in 2005. The Mids own a 7-1-0 advantage in games played in Easton, Pa.

Like Navy, Lehigh will also be looking for its first Patriot League win this weekend as it faces American on Friday evening before battling the Midshipmen on Sunday afternoon. Winners of three of their first four games, the Mountain Hawks have struggled as of late, dropping three of their last four contests, including a surprising 2-1 loss at Holy Cross last Sunday. Lehigh, however, has played a challenging schedule this fall with games against nationally-ranked Rutgers (L, 2-0) and regionally-ranked Villanova (T, 1-1) and Maryland (L, 2-0).

The Mountain Hawks’ offense has been balanced between seven players with sophomore Liz Carlos paving the way with nine points on three goals and three assists. Melissa Montalvo, Jen Fetsick and Glynn Fitzer have each booted in a pair of goals and all three have one game-winner to their credit. Junior keeper Julie Kafka has started all 11 contests for the Mountain Hawks, however, rookie Lauren Mains has seen action in every game, as well. Kafka has given up six of the opponents’ 13 goals, while making stops on 85.4 percent of the shots she has faced. Mains has allowed seven goals and made saves on 78.1 percent of the shots sent her direction.

The Mids have also found success in games played against Lehigh, as Navy holds a 10-3-2 series advantage. Navy, who is 3-2-0 in games played in Bethlehem, Pa., have won two in a row against the Mountain Hawks and 10 of the last 12. In the last three games played in Bethlehem, each team has a win, while the 2000 game was called a draw after a scoreless 110 minutes of play. Lehigh won the last game played on its home field, a 1-0 decision in 2005.

GreatAmerican · October 11, 2007, 4:46pm

For Immediate Release
Sent Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772

Navy Resumes Fall Tennis Season this Weekend

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - After a two-week layoff from competition, the Navy tennis team will resume its fall season this weekend when the squad participates in the Hampton Roads Collegiate Invitational. Nearly 30 teams from the East Coast will take part in the tournament, which runs Friday through Sunday in the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the Old Dominion campus in Norfolk, Va.

“We have been practicing very hard in preparation for this weekend’s tournament.” said Navy head coach John Officer. “This team is a pleasure to work with as every member is working to improve.”

Navy has entered eight players into the four singles flights and one doubles team into each of the four doubles flights at the tournament. The Mids placed four singles players and one doubles team into various finals at the 2006 edition of the event. Navy defaulted a trio of the finals matches due
to injury, with the remaining two singles players facing off against each other.

Navy as a team has totaled a 27-23 singles record this fall, as well as a 6-10 doubles record. Five different Mids have tallied a team-high four singles victories thus far this fall. Nick Birger (Fr., Belleville, Ill.), Owen Bullard (Fr., Concord, N.C.), Jason Hill (Jr., Marietta, Ga.) and Ramsey Lemaich (So., Danville, Calif.) all have compiled 4-2 records this fall, while Nate Nelms (Jr., St. Mary’s, Ga.) has posted a 4-3 record. Meanwhile, the doubles teams of Nelms / Johnny Waters (Jr., Papillion, Neb.) and Alex James (Sr., Visalia, Calif.) / Lemaich have each recorded a pair of wins this season.

GreatAmerican · October 11, 2007, 4:51pm

For Immediate Release
Sent Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772

Mids Home this Weekend to Face Mountain Hawks and Leopards; Free Youth Clinic Saturday

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy volleyball team will play host to Lehigh and Lafayette this weekend in Macdonough Hall in the final matches of the pening
half of the Patriot League season. The Mids will face the Mountain Hawks Friday at 7 p.m., with the tilt against the Leopards taking place Saturday at 5 p.m.

In addition to the matches this weekend, the Navy coaches and select players will be conducting a free volleyball clinic for boys and girls in the fourth through eighth grades Saturday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in Macdonough Hall. Interested kids can register either by calling (410) 293-8786 by 4 p.m. Friday or by simply showing up at the gym Saturday. Additionally, a “reunion” for all former Navy summer volleyball camp participants will take place during Saturday’s match against Lafayette.

Security restrictions at Navy remain in place for those interested in attending either the clinic or any of the matches this weekend. Everyone must park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium ($5.) and ride the free shuttle bus to and from Macdonough Hall. There is no admission charge for any Navy volleyball matches.

Navy and Lafayette, along with Bucknell, are tied for fourth place in the Patriot League standings with 2-3 records. Two of Navy’s three setbacks have come in five-game decisions. Lehigh, meanwhile, is in seventh place, but stands only one win behind the previously mentioned trio of teams with a 1-4 mark.

The field for the season-ending Patriot League Tournament consists of just the top-four teams in the standings at the end of the year.

“We want to end each weekend with us placed among the top-four teams in the league,” said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. "You never want to be in a position where you are fighting uphill against other teams.

“This weekend is the end of the first half of the season, but every match from here on out has playoff implications. These are two teams who we are battling for position with, and we still have to play in their buildings at the end of the year. That makes these two matches very important, for everyone. We’ve put ourselves in a position to win two matches on a weekend this season, but we haven’t finished the job. That is something we will need to do to make it to the playoffs.”

Navy as a team has totaled a .234 attack percentage through five league matches, while holding its opponents to a .203 percentage. The Mids have struggled to find a rhythm with its block since the start of the league play and are averaging 1.60 blocks per game, pretty much the same average opponents have posted against the team. Navy also is averaging 2.00 service aces and 14.10 digs per game, while opponents have dropped in 1.35 aces and grabbed 13.60 digs per game against the Mids.

Individually, the trio of Rachel Dougherty (Sr., Derwood, Md.), Jessie Sims (Jr., Etowah, N.C.) and Alexa Gibbs (Jr., Springfield, Ill.) are pacing the Navy offense with averages of 4.55, 4.00 and 3.45 kills per game, respectively. The trio also is hitting the ball very well and each rank among the top-15 players in the league for attack percentage. Navy’s back row defense has been very balanced, with Aimee’ Burns (Sr., Dallas, Texas), Marissa Watson (Jr., Redondo Beach, Calif.) and Sims all averaging over 2.00 digs per game.

Navy won both matches played a year ago against Lehigh. The Mids won a
three-game decision in Annapolis and outlasted the Mountain Hawks in five games in Bethlehem. Lehigh enters Friday’s match after its best weekend of the Patriot League season. The Mountain Hawks posted a three-game sweep over Holy Cross and lost in four games to second-place Army.

Lehigh has compiled a .123 hitting percentage during the league season, with
opponents tallying a .228 mark against the squad. The Mountain Hawks rank third in the Patriot League in both digs (15.62 dpg) and blocks per game (2.31 bpg).

As with Navy, three players are averaging multiple kills per game for Lehigh. 
Shannon Spafford leads the squad with an average of 3.88 kills per game, while Brittany Thurston ranks second (2.31 kpg) and Mo McReynolds stands third (2.25 kpg) on the squad. Spafford also leads the team with a .200 attack percentage and with 1.19 blocks per game. Danielle Pimental’s average of 3.75 digs per game makes her one of four players on the team to be averaging multiple digs this year.

Lafayette defeated Navy in both meetings last year, with the Leopards winning in four games in Annapolis and in three games in Easton. The Leopards, who play Friday at American prior to facing the Mids in Annapolis, are hitting .174 as a team during the league season and are allowing foes to hit .226. Both Lafayette and its opponents are totaling 16 digs a game, while the Leopards are being outblocked by a 2.07 to 1.33 blocks-per-game average.

Katrina Racibarskas is averaging 3.79 kills per game to edge Michaela Donohue’s mark of 3.20 kills per game for the team lead. Defensively for Lafayette, Kari Horn is averaging a team-best 3.87 digs per game, with Donohue’s mark of 3.60 digs per game placing her second in this category, as well.

GreatAmerican · October 12, 2007, 8:50am

Olsen in the middle of Army-Navy rivalry
Cross country runner and his fellow Midshipmen know the importance of tomorrow’s meeting
Thursday, October 11, 2007

By DANIEL O’LEARY
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE – It’s not your fault, for you are an outsider, so you may not understand how this rivalry works.

You may not believe that one team could hate losing to another so much, that a season can be made by just winning one meet or lost by losing one meet, even if you win all the others.

But that’s the nature of Army-Navy.

Cross country runner John Olsen, a Curtis graduate, will be right in the thick of it tomorrow, when his Midshipmen race at West Point.

“It’s Auburn-Alabama, it’s Ohio State-Michigan, it’s Notre Dame-USC,” said Navy cross country coach Al Cantello. “It’s of another era. No one even has dual meets anymore. And I’m sure when we go up there, they’ll have the cadets lined up along the course to try to intimidate us… Just like we’d do to them.”

“I don’t know if I can really put it into words,” said Olsen. “It is a pure hatred. We’re not rude or anything, just competitive. It’s athletic hatred.”

In other words, it’s the greatest rivalry in college sports.

“Put it this way,” Olsen said. “Any season we lose to Army, we look at as a failure. I remember, last time we lost to them two years ago, I don’t think anybody said a word on the bus ride home. Not coach. None of us. I don’t think anybody made a sound. And that is a long bus ride.”

Take that, Ohio State-Michigan.

Olsen has already helped the Midshipmen to an impressive fifth ranking in the U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association poll.

In three meets, he has clocked Navy’s best finish and placed in the top five. He’s been honored as Patriot League Runner of the Week twice this year and, his time of 24:01.2 back in September was the ninth fastest time in Navy’s 57-year course history and third fastest by a Midshipmen runner.

“He’s having a great year,” said Cantello. “I think sometimes he flatters himself and tries to run up with the big dogs, but he’s a free spirit. And he’s one of the good ones. We need people like that.”

But, Olsen knows why they are training. It’s not for individual glory. It’s to beat Army.

“Coach has been here for 40 years. He’s had admirals and senators and congressmen,” said Olsen. “He knows how intense it is when we compete with Army. We train for them to try to peak in mid-season.”

“When you beat them,” said Cantello. “The flowers smell better, the food tastes better and the girls look prettier. Beat Army and you’re canonized. Lose and you’re condemned. In every sport.”

In a rivalry that intense, you’d think it wouldn’t even be fun.

“It is fun, you know, once we beat them,” he said, half-kidding. “We’re not laughing and giggling before the meet, but beating them is one of the greatest, euphoric feelings.”

Olsen did speak of other goals, for instance winning the Patriot League and winning NCAA Regionals to go to the Nationals.

“As a senior, you feel more responsibility,” said Olsen, who was named an Academic All American on Tuesday and is off to flight school soon to become a Navy pilot. “You want to leave a legacy. And that’s what me and the other seniors have taken a lot more serious this year.”

But, when the talk shifts back to Army, you’d think a scuffle might break out on Friday. And that’d be a pretty even matchup.

But, perhaps the best part of it: Olsen says it never comes to the point of poor sportsmanship.

“We’ll shake their hands afterward, no question,” Olsen said. “But we won’t be wishing them luck or anything.”

GreatAmerican · October 12, 2007, 9:25am

The Associated Press

MANSFIELD, Pa. - Football is returning at Mansfield University, which dropped its Division II program nearly a year ago because of budget constraints.

Mansfield, which hosted the first night outdoor football game more than a century ago, will join the non-scholarship Collegiate Sprint Football League, which limits players from weighing more than 172 pounds. Navy, Army, Cornell, Penn and Princeton also have teams in the league.

University president Maravene Loeschke made the announcement to a jubilant group of alumni Friday. She said it will level the playing field for players from more high schools statewide.

The new program also will be a lot less expensive to operate, at only $155,000 compared to $500,000 for NCAA Division II, Loeschke said.

“Sprint football allows us to compete against some of the most prestigious universities in the nation while remaining affordable and complementing our core mission,” she said.

Mansfield will retain its membership in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, with 13 other sports. Tom Elsasser will be director of football operations.

The university will begin a nationwide search for a full-time football coach and plans to have the position staffed by the end of November.

Mansfield was home of the first night outdoor college football game in America in 1892, when it played Wyoming (Pa.) Seminary.

GreatAmerican · October 12, 2007, 11:02am

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy men’s soccer team looks for its first Patriot League win on Saturday as co-league leader American comes to the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility for a 7:00 pm contest. The Mids enter the contest with a 5-3-2 overall record, but are 0-2-0 in league play. American, meanwhile, is 4-6-2 overall but is tied for the league lead with three other teams with a 1-0-1 record.

Navy is coming off a 0-0 tie against Howard on Tuesday night in a game that was called late in the second half because of lightning. At the time of cancellation, the Mids had outshot the Bison, 15-11, with seven shots on goal, but couldn’t push one across in settling for their second scoreless tie of the season. Navy has hit a slump offensively, being shut out in three of the last
four games, while posting a 1-2-1 record during that span. The two losses came in Patriot League play, albeit to the top two teams (Bucknell and Lehigh) in the preseason Patriot League poll.

Leading the the Navy offense are a pair of sophomores in Andrew Garcia (Garland, Texas) and Chris Schneider (Arlington, Texas) and senior Doug DeVuono (Racine, Wis.) with six points. Garcia and DeVuono lead the team in goals with three, while Schneider has one goal and four assists. Sophomore Mark Garcia (Tempe, Ariz.) has contributed five points (1 g, 3 a) and King and Adam Pennington (Tampa, Fla.) have four points each. The Mids suffered a blow in the Oct. 2, 3-0 win over Philadelphia University as leading scorer Andrew Garcia broke a bone in his foot and will likely miss the majority of the season.

Defensively, Navy has been solid, allowing just three teams to score two or more goals this year. The Mids have allowed just 96 shots (9.6 per game) and opponents have drawn just 36 corner kicks for the season. Navy has also cut down significantly on its fouls, being whistled just 114 times in 10 games (11.4 per game), well below last year’s average of 15.6 fouls per game.

Two Navy goalies have split time in goal, with senior Evan Barnes (Dublin, Ohio) seeing the majority of the action. Barnes is 3-3-1 on the season with a 1.22 GAA and a .700 save percentage while making 21 saves. Senior Thomas Jenkins (Franklin, N.C.) has played well in his three starts, posting a 2-0-1 record with a 0.35 GAA and a .917 save percentage with 11 saves. Jenkins has recorded four shutouts, including one of Howard on Tuesday night, and owns a career 7-3-2 record between the pipes.

American started the year fast with a 3-1-0 record in its first four games, however are just 1-5-2 in its last eight games. But the Eagles’ lone win and one of their ties during the recent slide have come in Patriot League play, defeating Army, 2-1, and tying Lafayette last weekend, 0-0. The Eagles currently have four league points, putting American in a four-way first-place tie with
Colgate, Bucknell and Lafayette.

American sports a balanced lineup as Daniel Shannon leads the way with six points (2 g, 2 a) and 34 shots. Seven other players have scored at least two points on the season. Goalkeeper Chris Sedlak has a .700 save percentage with a 1.59 GAA in the nets.

Navy leads the all-time series, 7-6-5, including a 5-1-3 mark in Annapolis. The Mids are looking for their third straight win in the series for the first time ever, as Navy defeated the Eagles, 1-0, last year in Washington, D.C., while topping American, 2-0, in 2005 in Annapolis. Navy’s lone loss in Annapolis came in the 2001 season, a 1-0 setback on Sept. 26, 2001.

Fans are encouraged to visit navysports.com to print off a coupon to receive two tickets for the price of one. The game is also being promoted as “High School Night” and “Camper Reunion Night”. For more information, call 410-293-8785 and for ticket information, call 1-800-US4-NAVY.

GreatAmerican · October 12, 2007, 3:18pm

<a href=“Real Estate – Capital Gazette”>Real Estate – Capital Gazette;

GreatAmerican · October 12, 2007, 7:37pm

DALLAS (FWAA) - Zerbin Singleton has been nominated for the FedEx Orange Bowl- FWAA Courage Award, to be announced at the end of the 2007 season. Singleton, a senior slotback, overcame a troubled background to win an appointment to the Naval Academy, and is on track to reach his ultimate goal of becoming an astronaut.

Singleton didn’t know his father until he was a senior in high school; a year later, his father committed suicide. Singleton had been living with cousins in Decatur, Ga., since he was 11, when he left his home in Alaska because his mother went to jail for a parole violation.

Wanting to pursue military aviation and his dream of becoming an astronaut, Singleton was accepted by the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy, and chose the Navy because of the potential to “land on a carrier, in pitch black, while it’s tilting left and right,” he told SI.com.

But Singleton’s dream was deferred when he was hit by a drunk driver one week before he was scheduled to graduate high school (as valedictorian). A broken collarbone meant he couldn’t go through Navy’s plebe summer, and couldn’t enroll. But after a year at Georgia Tech, Singleton transferred to Navy. He’s been a two-year starter. He carries a 3.2 GPA in aerospace engineering.

For the second straight year, the Football Writers Association of America and the FedEx Orange Bowl will announce a weekly nominee each Wednesday during the season. A blue-ribbon panel will determine the winner from all of the nominees. The winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award will be announced in December and be presented with the trophy.

The Courage Award was created by ESPN The Magazine’s senior writer Gene Wojciechowski, also a FWAA member. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.

Previous winners of the FWAA’s Courage Award are Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis’ Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State’s Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo’s William Bratton (2002).

The Orange Bowl Committee is a not-for- profit, 309-member, primarily volunteer organization that exists as a self-sustaining, independent organization supporting and producing activities and events which enhance the image, economy and culture of South Florida. Among the OBC’s core events are the Orange Bowl Festival, FedEx Orange Bowl and Orange Bowl Halftime Show, the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, the WaMu Orange Bowl Fan Fest presented by the City of Miami, the Budweiser Orange Bowl Tailgate Party, Orange Bowl Youth Football Championships, Orange Bowl Cheer Dance Championships, Orange Bowl Swim Classic, Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships and Orange Bowl Sailing Regatta Series.

For more information on the 2007-08 Orange Bowl Festival and its year-round schedule of events and promotions, log on to orangebowl.org, the official site for all Orange Bowl Committee news, tickets and apparel. The website also offers information on event tickets, the Orange Bowl Travel Network and experiencing the Orange Bowl Festival as a volunteer through the Ambassador Program.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game day operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

2007 FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award Nominees
· Sept. 12: Brian Kajiyama, Hawaii
· Sept. 19: Terry Clayton, Kentucky
· Sept. 26: Danny Langsdorf, Oregon State
· Oct. 3: Lester Karlin, Virginia Tech
· Oct. 10: Zerbin Singleton

GreatAmerican · October 12, 2007, 7:38pm

For Immediate Release
Friday, October 12, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Navy Captures N-Star, Beats Army, 23-38

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Navy womens cross country runner Amy Watson (So./Hampstead, Md.) led all competitors across the finish line as the Midshipmen defeated Army, 23-38, to claim the N-Star at the West Point Golf Course on Friday afternoon.

With the victory, Navy maintains its perfect dual-meet record this season, upping its mark to 4-0. The Midshipmen also improved their all-time advantage over the Black Knights to 13-9 with Fridays win.

Navys 15-point win over Army ranks as the second-largest margin of victory in program history at West Point, only topped by a 16-45 triumph in 1989. The Midshipmen also snapped a five-meet skid to the Black Knights in West Point, dating back to the 1997 season.

With the added strength in our workouts coming into today, I think we were ready this year and well prepared for the course and the elements, stated Navy head coach Karen Boyle. Amy (Watson) did a great job breaking up Armys top runners and the rest of the pack ran very well together.

Racing at temperatures in the mid-50s with winds gusting to 30 mph following rainfall in the morning, Watson finished the 6k course in 24:06 to post her first meet title and mark the first time she has led the Mids across the finish line in her young career. The Navy sophomore crossed the finish line 12 seconds ahead of Armys top runner, Meghan Curran.

After Army grabbed the second- and third-place positions, a pack of six Navy runners finished within 27 seconds of another to claim each of the next-six spots. Arwyn Becker (Sr./Vail, Colo.), Navys top runner in each of the last-three meets, placed fourth with a time of 24:31, soon followed by Lexa Gasss (So./Crescent, Pa.) 24:32 clocking for fifth place. Team captain Kyleigh Millhouse (Sr./Boiling Springs, Pa.) placed sixth with a 24:46 showing and Erica Ziel (So./Saginaw, Mich.) rounded out the scoring five with an seventh-place time of 24:48.

Navys two displacing runners, Maureen Dooley (So./Durham, Conn.) and Vicki Moore (Sr./Burke, Va.), also finished among the top-10 competitors. Dooley crossed the finish line in 24:53 for eight place, five seconds ahead of Burkes 24:58 ninth-place showing.

With the mens team defeating Army, 23-35, earlier in the day, the Navy cross country teams swept the Black Knights in West Point for the third time in school history. The prior two occasions came in 1989 and 1991. The two N-Star victories for the cross country teams on Friday upped Navys overall record against Army this season to 4-1 and 3-1 in Star contests.

The Midshipmen will conclude their regular season when they head to Easton, Pa., for the Lafayette Invitational, starting at 10 a.m. Two weeks later on Saturday, Oct. 27, the Mids head back to Lafayettes Metzgar Fields for the 2007 Patriot League Championship.

GreatAmerican · October 12, 2007, 7:39pm

For Immediate Release
Friday, October 12, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Navy Claims N-Star, Defeats Army, 23-35

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Navy mens cross country team captain John Kress (Sr./Colorado Springs, Colo.) led five Midshipmen among the top-eight competitors as the Midshipmen posted a 23-35, N-Star victory over Army at the West Point Golf Course on Friday afternoon.

With the win, Navy concluded the regular season with a 1-0 record in dual-meet action and improved to 9-2 versus Army over the last-11 N-Star races and 43-27-1 all-time against the Black Knights.

This year, we didnt make the same mistake as we made two years ago and were much more patient, stated Navy head coach Al Cantello, who picked up his 30th career N-Star victory over Army in cross country. The race went exactly as I planned it in my head, with us getting our top-seven runners across the finish line before Armys fifth.

Racing at temperatures in the mid-50s with winds gusting to 30 mph following rainfall in the morning, Kress produced a time of 26:47 over the 8k course to boast the teams fastest time for the second-consecutive week. The Navy senior finished 15 seconds behind John Mickowskis first-place time for Army.

Immediately following Kress across the finish line was teammate John Olsen (Sr./Staten Island, N.Y.), who placed third with a 26:53 clocking. Navy brought home the fourth position with Bill Proms (Jr./New Berlin, Wis.) 27:10 showing, followed by Andrew Grants (Jr./Athens, Ga.) 27:22 clocking for sixth place and Chris Horels (So./Belford, N.J.) eighth-place time of 27:37.

Navys two displacing runners, Andrew Hanko (Fr./Montville, N.J.) and Matt Leyndyke (Traverse City, Mich.), finished before Armys fifth and final scoring runner on Friday. Hanko, who had been hampered with an ankle injury for much of the season, came through with a ninth-place time of 27:39. Leyndyke followed eight seconds behind Hanko to finish 11th with a 27:47 showing.

With the womens team defeating Army, 23-38, later in the day, the Navy cross country teams swept the Black Knights in West Point for the third time in school history. The prior two occasions came in 1989 and 1991. The two N-Star victories for the cross country teams on Friday upped Navys overall record against Army this season to 4-1 and 3-1 in Star contests.

The Midshipmen will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 27, when they head to Lafayettes Metzgar Fields in Easton, Pa., for the 2007 Patriot League Championship. Race time is scheduled for 11 a.m.

GreatAmerican · October 13, 2007, 6:19am

Navy def. Lehigh, 3-0 (30-17, 30-22, 30-25)

For more information on Navy Athletics, please visit <a href=“http://www.navysports.com%5B/url%5D”>www.navysports.com</a>

For Immediate Release
Sent Friday, Oct. 12, 2007
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772

Navy Outhits Lehigh For Victory

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy volleyball team totaled a .294 attack percentage and held Lehigh to a .083 mark as the Midshipmen posted a three-game sweep over the Mountain Hawks Friday night at Macdonough Hall. Navy improved to 3-3 in the Patriot League and 14-8 overall on the season with the 30-17, 30-22, 30-25 victory over Lehigh (1-5 Patriot League, 4-13 overall).

The win was Navy’s 11th in three games this year, which ties the school record – held by the 1992 squad – for the most sweeps recorded by the Mids in a single season.

“I thought we played hard tonight,” said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. “We did had some lapses out there, however. Give Lehigh credit because they took advantage of those situations when we were struggling and forced us into some situations we didn’t want to be in. We did recover from those instances, so I am proud of how we worked our way back into a rhythm.”

Game one was close in the early stages with the two teams knotted at 9-9. The Mids then went on a 10-4 run to take a 19-13 lead then, following a Lehigh sideout, scored the next eight points to take a 27-14 advantage.

Navy scored the opening four points of the second game but soon found itself holding just an 11-9 lead. Four straight kills by the Mids, with Krista Eschelman (So., Germantown, Md.) recording the first two, and a bad set by the Mountain Hawks soon gave the Mids a 16-9 lead. Navy then held a lead in the six-to-nine point range over the remainder of the game to take a 2-0 lead in games.

The Mids held a 10-8 advantage in game three when Lehigh went on a 8-0 run to open up a 16-10 lead. Navy responded with an 8-0 run of its own to take an 18-16 lead, but the two teams were soon tied again at 25-25. Rachel Dougherty (Sr., Derwood, Md.) and Eschelman each knocked down a kill, then the duo teamed up for a block to give Navy some breathing room with a 28-25 lead. A Lehigh attack error and a service ace from Alexa Gibbs (Jr., Springfield, Ill.) ended the match.

In addition to holding the large advantage in hitting percentage, the Mids also posted 50 kills and 53 digs to 27 kills and 35 digs for Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks, however, held a 9-5 advantage in service aces and posted 6.0 team blocks to 5.0 for Navy.

Dougherty tallied a match-high 17 kills and posted a .394 attack percentage on the night, while Gibbs totaled 13 kills, a .429 hitting percentage and a Navy-best three blocks.

Shannon Spafford led Lehigh with six kills and five blocks.

Navy will close the first half of the Patriot League season Saturday afternoon with a 5 p.m. match against Lafayette. The two teams entered play Friday night tied with Bucknell for fourth place in the league standings.

“You can’t underestimate the importance of Saturday’s match to both teams,” said Schwob. “We need to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally and, like tonight, be prepared to do whatever it takes to come out on top.”

GreatAmerican · October 13, 2007, 6:20am

For Immediate Release
Friday, Oct. 12, 2007
Women’s Soccer Contact: Stacie Michaud (410) 293-8773
For more information on Navy athletics, log on to <a href=“http://www.NavySports.com%5B/url%5D”>www.NavySports.com</a>

Navy Soccer Earns 3-0 Road Win Against Lafayette
EASTON, Pa. - Junior defender Carey Young (Virginia Beach, Va.) turned in a goal and an assist to lead the Navy women’s soccer team (8-4-2 / 1-1 Patriot League) to a 3-0 victory over Lafayette (3-10-0 / 0-2 PL) on a chilly Friday evening in Easton, Pa. The Midshipmen have won 15 in a row against the Leopards, outscoring them 20-1 over the last seven games and 45-7 over the 16-game series.

“This was a big Patriot League road win for us,” said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra, whose Midshipmen have struggled in games played away from home (2-3 away, 1-1-1 neutral) this season. “We had another solid defensive game and I was particularly happy getting three goals on the board tonight. We need to continue to generate more scoring opportunities.”

Navy took the lead just 14 minutes into the contest when junior forward Kristen Laraway (Long Valley, N.J.) sent a corner kick to the far post with Young awaiting and tapping the ball in for not only her second goal of the season, but also her second game-winner.

The Mids, who took four shots in the opening half, three of which were on goal, held a 1-0 advantage at the half.

Navy once again converted a corner kick into a goal in the 78th minute when Young kicked the ball to the center of the box. Second-year defender Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) flicked the ball to teammate Julie Reynolds (Sherman, Conn.), who booted in her second goal of the year. Two of Reynolds’ four career goals have been scored against the Leopards.

Senior forward Brigitte Fox (La Mesa, Calif.) sealed the win in the 81st minute with her team-high sixth goal. Fox dribbled the ball to the end line before taking her shot at a difficult angle. As Lafayette keeper Mary Kate Erdman tried to recover by racing back to the goal, it came off her body and went into the goal. With her goal, Fox moved into a tie for ninth alongside Nadia Sheikh (1999-02) on Navy’s career scoring list with 57 points.

Navy finished the game with a 9-4 advantage in the shots column, holding Lafayette to just two shots on goal. For Navy keeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.), it marked her third shutout of the year and 16th of her career.

The Mids return to action on Sunday when they make the short trip to Bethlehem, Pa., to face Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks dropped to 0-2 in the Patriot League after losing to American, 2-1, Friday night at Ulrich Field. Sunday’s contest is set for 1:00 pm.

GreatAmerican · October 13, 2007, 2:51pm

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy men’s basketball team began its 2007-08 season with its first practice of the year on Saturday morning, Oct. 13. The Mids worked out for two hours in Halsey Field House, before shifting over to Alumni Hall for an afternoon session, beginning at 4:00 pm on Saturday. Head coach Billy Lange welcomes back six letterwinners and over 75 percent of its scoring from last year’s team that went 14-16 overall, recording its best mark since the 2000-01 season.

“It was better this morning than I thought it would be. It was a little sloppy, but that was to be expected. I think the guys were excited to be out here and it showed by how hard they worked,” said Navy head coach Billy Lange. “We want to get the tempo up to where we want it and we have some athletic guys that can run the floor. That caused some of the sloppiness, but that will fix itself in time.”

Lange was also impressed with the level of conditioning the team displayed on the first day. The Mids have been working out as a team since the start of the school year and many of the players were back in Annapolis over the summer working out together.

“With the style we want to play, I thought our conditioning was very good. It’s a fine line here, because you don’t want to burn them out with all their other duties, but it appears that everyone worked out pretty hard over the summer to prepare them for preseason practice,” said Lange. “In our scrimmage situations, we had a lot of good ball movement and communication. We just need to get used to playing with the new guys in our system and having some players adjust to new roles. But all in all, it was a good first practice.”

Senior captain Greg Sprink (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.) echoed Lange’s sentiments. Sprink, who is serving as a team captain for the second straight year, is the Patriot League’s top returning scorer from a year ago.

“We worked out hard this summer and everyone appears to be in shape,” said Sprink. “We’ve wanted to play up-tempo the last couple of years, but we are more athletic this year and have the players to do that. We spent a lot of time together the past month and everyone is working on their specific roles. It’s exciting because we are coming together and everyone is willing to work hard. It’s a terrific environment this year.”

One player that has made a difference already that can’t participate in games this year is freshman O.J. Avworo (Houston, Texas). Avworo must sit out of games this year after transferring from the University of Idaho, but can practice with the team. Sprink says that Avworo makes everyone a better player around him.

“I think we all wish that O.J. would have come here right away, but we are glad that he is here now,” said Sprink. “He just makes everyone a better player. His attitude, intensity and the way he communicates is very uplifting and he makes us all work harder. He prides himself in his defense and intensity and that is contagious. His goal is to shut down his guy in practice and he will tell you about it. It makes you more focused and a better player.”

Navy will continue preseason workouts until its season opener on Nov. 9 against Longwood in Farmville, Va., beginning at 7:30 pm.

GreatAmerican · October 13, 2007, 2:52pm

For Immediate Release
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Navy Finishes Eighth at Lafayette Invitational

EASTON, Pa. - Navy womens cross country runner Bethany Rahall (Fr./Yorktown, Va.) posted the teams fastest time, 37th overall, as the Midshipmen closed out the regular season with an eighth-place finish out of 11 teams at the Lafayette Invitational on Saturday morning at Metzgar Fields.

One day after claiming a 23-38 victory over Army in West Point to capture the N-Star, the Midshipmen primarily raced their freshmen and sophomores en route to a 246-point effort. Maryland won the meet with a score of 68 points, followed by Bucknells 75 points, Kutztowns 77 points, Americans 88 points and Holy Crosss 117 points.

Our main objective was to get out on and familiar with the league championship course, stated Navy head coach Karen Boyle. Our second team really ran well, with several runners recording personal records. We had strong finishes with good packing, especially in the middle.

Rahall covered the 6k course in 22:23 to pace the Midshipmen with a 37th-place time out of 122 runners. The Navy freshmans performance marked the first time she led the Mids across the finish line in her young career.

Anne Prisk (Fr./Traverse City, Mich.) came in 53rd place with a 22:50 clocking, followed by Caroline Barlows (Fr./Orange Park, Fla.) 63rd-place time of 23:07. Kaitlin Baker (So./Rockford, Mich.) registered Navys fourth-best time, 67th overall, with a 23:11 performance and Nicole Kauzlarich (So./Kanehoe Bay, Hawaii) rounded out the scoring five with a 23:14 showing for 71st place.

Navy boasted an impressive 51-second differential between its scoring-five runners on Saturday and a 1:02 spread among its top-seven performers.

The Midshipmen will start their postseason by heading back to Lafayettes home course on Saturday, Oct. 27, for the Patriot League Championship. Race time is scheduled for 12 noon.

GreatAmerican · October 14, 2007, 3:39am

Navy def. Lafayette, 3-0 (30-17, 30-21, 30-28)

For Immediate Release
Sent Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772

Navy Posts Sweep of Lafayette

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Strong serving by the Navy volleyball team allowed the Midshipmen to hold Lafayette to a .145 attack percentage during a 30-17, 30-21, 30-28 victory over the Leopards, Saturday evening at Macdonough Hall. The victory gives Navy a 4-3 record in Patriot League matches (15-8 overall) at the evend of the first half of the league campaign, while Lafayette falls to 2-5 at the midpoint of the league season (10-13 overall).

The Mids held an 8-1 advantage over the Leopards in service aces during the match, with numerous additional tough serves by Navy forcing the Lafayette offense out of its rhythm.

“Our serve was key tonight,” said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. “It has been awhile since a number of people have been on with their serve, but tonight it was really clicking for a lot of players.”

Navy slowly built a sizeable lead in game one, turning a 6-5 lead into a 15-9 advantage and holding at least a six-point cushion over the remainder of the game. The Mids outhit the Leopards .387-.054 in winning the game.

The Mids carried their momentum into the start of the second game by scoring the opening five points, but Lafayette rallied and soon the teams were tied at 10-10. Navy then held a 19-18 lead with Jessie Sims (Jr., Etowah, N.C.) recorded a service ace to start a 4-0 run that gave the Mids a 23-18 advantage. After a Lafayette sideout, the Mids closed the game with a 7-2 run.

Navy tied to pull away from Lafayette several times during game three, but the Leopards continually responded and closed the margin. The Mids held leads of 14-9, 20-15 and 26-23, but Lafayette quickly tied the game at 27-27. Rachel Dougherty (Sr., Derwood, Md.) posted a kill to break the tie, then setter Marissa Watson (Jr., Redondo Beach, Calif.) tallied a kill of her own to take the Mids to within match point. Watson was called for a ball-handling error on the next play to make the score 29-28, but she found Dougherty again on the next who ended the match with her 19th kill of the evening.

In addition to holding the lead in service aces, the Mids also finishing the match with a .308-.145 hitting percentage advantage over the Leopards. The lone game in which Navy failed to hit over .360 was the second game (.190), but Lafayette hit over .125 in just the final game of the evening (.256).

Dougherty’s 19 kills paced all players in the match, with the outside hitter also posting a .409 attack percentage, six digs and a Navy-best three blocks in the contest. She was joined in double figure kills by teammate Sims with 10, who just missed a double-double with nine digs. Watson, however did record a double-double in the match with 10 digs and 40 assists.

Cara Mulholland tallied 12 kills and Maura Kelly knocked down 11 kills and hit .500 to lead the Leopards.

“This was a big win for us,” said Schwob. “We have had the opportunity to win a pair of league matches during one weekend this month (Navy posted a 3-0 win over Lehigh Friday), but we haven’t been able to play two complete matches. This was a nice hurdle for us to get over, but to make the playoffs we know we have to accomplish this again. We have to take the results and success of this weekend and build on it.”

Navy will close the home portion of its Patriot League season this coming weekend with matches Friday against Holy Cross and Saturday against Army. Both matches are slated to start at 7 p.m. in Macdonough Hall.

GreatAmerican · October 14, 2007, 3:40am

Navy Men’s Swimming & Diving
Navy def. Catholic, 223-66
Navy def. George Washington, 207.5-82.5
Navy def. Loyola, 194-101

Navy Women’s Swimming & Diving
Navy def. Catholic, 196-71
Navy def. George Washington, 174-107
Navy def. Loyola, 160-129

For Immediate Release
Sent Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772

Navy Swimming Programs Both Record Three Wins

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The opening to the 2007-08 regular season for the Navy swimming and diving programs was a successful one as both squads recorded victories over Catholic, George Washington and Loyola Saturday afternoon in Lejeune Hall.

The men’s team defeated Catholic by the score of 223-66, George Washington by the tally of 207.5-82.5, and Loyola by a count of 194-101.

“I am very happy with the improvement we saw from our intrasquad meet one week ago to today,” said Navy men’s swimming head coach Bill Roberts. “I was pleased with the improvement in both times and in the technical way we swam. We will take what we learned today and continue to work hard and keep improving next week.”

The Navy women, meanwhile, posted a 196-71 victory over Catholic, defeated George Washington by the score of 174-107 and won a 160-129 decision over Loyola.

“It was a solid meet for us,” said Navy women’s swimming head coach John Morrison. “We received some very good results from people who were not competing in their traditional events. It is nice to see the swimmers have success in different events. Overall, today was much improved from last week (at the Potomac Relays) and I am very pleased by that.”

Both programs accounted for 12 event victories on the day. Multiple event winners for Mids included Adam Meyer (So., Bethesda, Md.) in the 800 freestyle (8:28.93) and 100 butterfly (58.35), Allison Ranzau (Fr., Alpharetta, Ga.) in the 800 free (9:24.73) and 400 free (4:36.93), Tara Chapmon (So., Virginia Beach, Va.) in the 200 free (2:06.28) and 200 back (2:25.52), and Tessa Snow (Fr., Hamlin, N.Y.) in the 200 fly (2:27.21) and 200 IM (2:29.25).

Additionally, Olaf Olson (Fr., Bainbridge Island, Wash.) won both diving events for the men, while Katie Griffin (Sr., Ellicott City) swept the two boards for the women.

Both Navy programs will return to Lejeune Hall Friday night as the Mids will play host to Johns Hopkins. The women’s meet between the two schools is slated to begin at 5 p.m., with the men’s meet to follow at 7:15 p.m.

GreatAmerican · October 14, 2007, 3:41am

For Immediate Release
Sent Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772

Navy Sweeps Varsity Titles at Navy Day Regatta

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy crew programs combined to win eight of a possible 10 races, including each of the respective varsity eight titles, at the Navy Day Regatta held Saturday on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.

The Navy heavyweight team won the varsity title for the third-straight year with a clocking of 12:58.70 over the 2.5-mile course. The Mids finished 29 seconds in front of second-place St. Joseph’s. The Navy women’s team won its first varsity title at the event in two years by posting a time of 13:03.00 to defeat Georgetown by 12 seconds. Navy’s lightweight team matched the heavyweight squad’s victory run by winning its third-straight varsity title with a victorious time of 13:03.00. In addition to the winning boat, Navy lightweight crews also placed second (13:25.10) and fourth (13:36.20) in the race.

The Navy heavyweight program emerged from the day with victories in each of the four races in which it entered boats, the women’s team also won the junior varsity eight race and the lightweights won the freshman eight contest, as well.

“It is a rare feat to win four races, so we are very excited that all of our rowers were able to leave here with a gold medal,” said heavyweight head coach Rick Clothier. “It was a solid day for all of our crews.”

“Today was a great way to start the season,” said women’s head coach Mike Hughes. “We are very happy with the results, but we know all this shows us this early in the season is that we are on the right track.”

“It was a great day for all of our boats,” said lightweight head coach Rob Friedrich. “I am especially pleased with the performance of our freshman boats. Our varsity boats, meanwhile, performed very well against some challenging and talented competition. We are very pleased with today and now look forward to going even faster next week at the Head of the Charles.”

Each of the Navy programs will enter boats into the Oct. 21 Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.

Heavyweight Results
College 8 – 1st of 13 – 12:58.70
College JV 8 – 1st of 5 – 13:29.60
College 4 – 1st of 18 – 14:50.90
Club 4 – 1st of 3 – 15:31.40

Lightweight Results
College 8 – 1st (2nd & 4th) of 9 – 13:03.00
Club 8 – 3rd (4th & 5th) of 5 – 13:21.80
College Freshman 8 – 1st (2nd) of 17 – 13:58.60

Women’s Results
College 8 – 1st of 11 – 15:01.50
College JV 8 – 1st of 13 – 15:25.60
College Novice 8 – 3rd (5th) of 13 – 16:32.20

GreatAmerican · October 14, 2007, 3:42am

Navy Men’s Soccer Drops 1-0 Heartbreaker to American

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy men’s soccer team pressured the American defense all night, but it was the Eagles’ Daniel Shannon’s goal in the 72nd minute that gave American a 1-0 victory over the Midshipmen at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility on Saturday night. The loss drops Navy’s record to 5-4-2 overall and 0-3-0 in the Patriot League. American, a Patriot League co-leader, improved to 5-6-2 overall and 2-0-1 in league play.

“There isn’t too much to say,” said a disappointed Navy head coach Rich Miranda. “We felt we deserved a better result, and we played very, very hard tonight. The breaks just didn’t go our way and American took advantage of the chances they had. We left it all out on the field. We had our chances and couldn’t bury them and they had their chances and buried one of them. We have a tough road ahead now, and it will show what kind of character this team has.”

American got the better of the play in the first half, but it was Navy that had the best opportunity. With just over four minutes left in the first half, Justin Waskey (Georgetown, Ky.) had a shot saved by American goalkeeper Chris Sedlak from in close. As Waskey went for the rebound, he was ran over from behind to give the Mids a penalty kick. Senior Eric Gorden (Longwood, Fla.) took the kick, sliding a low shot to the left corner that Sedlak got a hand on and sent wide of the net to keep Navy off the board.

Navy turned up the offensive heat in the second half and nearly got on the board with about 20 minutes left. Anthony Parker (Fredericksburg, Va.) and Waskey both had outstanding looks at the goal that Sedlak thwarted. Moments after the Navy flurry, American’s Daniel Shannon took a long pass to the right, dribbled into the middle and sent a rocket into the low left corner that beat Thomas Jenkins (Franklin, N.C.) for a 1-0 American lead.

“The kid made a great play and I think our defense was getting a little tired at that point,” said Miranda. “Our second defender was too far away, but give him credit too. He just made a great play with a great shot.”

After that, Navy threw everything it had at Sedlak trying to get the equalizer, including outstanding chances by Parker and Adam Pennington (Tampa, Fla.), but just couldn’t find the net as Navy was shut out for the third straight game, 1-0. The shutout loss marks the first time Navy has been shut out in three straight games since the 2005 season and the first time the Mids have been shut out in four-of-five games since Oct. 17 to Nov. 5, 2004. Navy is currently riding a 327-minute scoreless streak.

The Mids outshot American, 14-8, and drew nine corner kicks, including six in the second half, to just three for the Eagles. Navy also couldn’t take advantage of 25 American fouls. Navy was whistled for just 13 fouls. Both keepers were outstanding in goal, as Jenkins recorded six saves, while Sedlak made eight.

The road won’t get any easier in Navy’s next game as it heads to 2006 Big East champion and 18th-ranked West Virginia on Tuesday night. Kick-off is slated for 7:00 pm in Morgantown, W.Va.

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