Navy Season Preview

As shown on the upcoming games, the Naval Academy makes their way to College Park this Saturday for a 12pm game against your Maryland Terrapins. The Terps are 6-2 (1-2) on the season after dropping two straight contests, albeit they were to the top 2 teams in the country [a 9-6 loss at UNC two weeks ago, and this past Saturday's controversial 11-10 loss to UVA]. After going down 7-2 at half, the Terps started to slide better on defense and using their big bodies, picked their way through...literally...the Cavalier's defense exposing what some say is a glaring weakness for the team. Will Yeatman had a career high, 4 goals, but Grant Catalino was completely shut out. He has just 2 points in the last two games, although he still leads the team with 31 points.

Navy, 5-5 on the year including a 2-2 record in OT games, is coming off 2 extra time games. They took down Colgate in New York 10-9(OT) with a late 6-1 surge in the final 16 minutes of the game on March 27th. Senior middie Patrick Morgan had a hat-trick, and nailed the game winner just 1:37 into the overtime period. Similar to what Coach Cottle has been saying the last two weeks about his team's performance, Navy head coach Richie Meade said after the game, "We've been able to fight our way this season through the highs and lows and for that I am proud of our guys. But we've got to start playing an entire 60 minutes."

On April 3rd, the fell to #13 Georgetown (a team Maryland beat 15-13 earlier this season, which included a wild 7-goal run by the Terps after falling behind the Hoyas) 13-12(OT). Max Seligmann hit the game-winning shot for G'Town 52 seconds into the extra period. Navy never led in the game, yet scored 3 in a row to force overtime. Patrick Morgan had another hat-trick as well as Brendan Connors, and Andy Warner led the team with 4 helpers.

Overall, the offense is scoring 9.4 goals a game while their defense only gives up 8.4 each contest. They sport a .390 EMO conversion percentage, a far cry from Maryland's .607 percentage on those man-up chances which ranks 2nd in the nation. Navy's opponents have 56 more ground balls than the Midshipmen and they have been outscored 94-84 this season, but still remain a .500 team. Last year, Navy beat the Terps 10-4 as Maryland's play declined toward the end of last season...an unexpected result, but not as surprising as a win this week would be.

Morgan, Warner, and Connors all have at least 23 points on the season, Morgan with 20 goals through 10 games. Maryland has dropped 5 of the last 6 games to Navy after winning 11 straight games against their in-state rival. Navy is looking to boost their team with just their 3rd win (if they come out on top) against a team with a winning record, while the Terps are trying to win that elusive "state championship" (if they can win the next two games, they will have beaten the 4 main lax teams in the state). It means a lot for both teams, especially if the Terps want to build a little momentum before their game at Ravens Stadium on the 17th against Hopkins.

Make sure to tune in to wmucsports.com for the game! Go Terps!