Sept. 4, 2010

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy men's soccer team erupted for five goals, including four in the second half, to cruise past VMI, 5-0, on a gorgeous Saturday night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. The win moves Navy's record to 2-0-0, while VMI drops to 0-2-0.

Navy is now 2-0-0 for the first time since the 2005 season, and the Mids' five goals were the most since scoring five against Long Island in the 2000 season opener. In addition, the five goals set a new Glenn Warner Soccer Facility record.

"It's obviously good to get a second win on the young season. Once we got our second goal, things started opening up for us," said Navy head coach Dave Brandt. "We were able to get some guys some playing time, which is a positive as well. We are pleased with the start."

Navy came out fast, tallying five shots and four corner kicks in the game's first five minutes, and did not let up on the pressure on the offensive end. The Mids finally broke through late in the first half when sophomore Will Parker (Annandale, Va.) took a pass from senior Alex Foskett (Manassas, Va.), put a move on a defender and fired a 15-yard rocket from the left slot just inside the right post for a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute. The goal, the game-winner, was Parker's first career tally.

The Mids then poured it on in the second half, scoring four times while keeping the Keydets off the board.

Navy pushed the lead to 2-0 when freshman Dave Arnold (Baltimore, Md.) scored in the 53rd minute off a feed from classmate Alex Wilson (Phoenix, Ariz.). Wilson played a low cross to Arnold that the VMI keeper initially saved but couldn't corral. Arnold regrouped and sent the ball into the open net as the goalie was out of position for a 2-0 advantage.

Arnold then added to the lead six minutes later when he took a pass from freshman Zach Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo.), dribbled into the middle of the field and shot back across his body inside the left post for a 3-0 cushion in the 59th minute.

Freshman Guy Skord (Annapolis, Md.) then got into the act from an assist credited to freshman Patrick Sopko (Gloucester, Va.). Sopko hustled down a long ball, slid it past the VMI defense to a streaking Skord, who easily beat the keeper into the top right corner for a 4-0 margin in the 70th minute.

Navy's last goal came off the foot of Sopko, who took a pass from Parker and outran the defense to face the goalkeeper alone and score his first goal of the season.

The Mids outshot VMI, 20-4, including 13-0 in the first half. Navy also drew seven corner kicks to VMI's two. Aaron Dupere (Fr. / Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) stopped two shots in 65 minutes of action, before Max Renaldo (Soph. / Tampa, Fla.) saw his first career action and made two saves to preserve the shutout.

Navy will host UMBC next Saturday night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility at 8:00 pm. Fans with a Georgia Southern football ticket stub can attend for free by showing the ticket stub at the gate. For more information, call 1-800-US4-NAVY.

GAME NOTES: • Navy started six freshmen for the second consecutive game ... of the 16 points, 15 of them were by newcomers. The lone point not scored by a newcomer was an Alex Foskett assist on Navy's first goal ... both Dave Arnold and Patrick Sopko tied the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility record for points by an individual with four ... Arnold tied the GWSF goals scored record with two (set by three other players) and Sopko tied the assists mark with two (set by five other players) ... the five goals were the most for a team at the GWSF and the most for the Navy program since scoring five against Long Island in the 2000 season opener (Sept. 1, 2000), over 10 years ago ... Navy is 2-0-0 for the first time since 2005. Navy has not started 3-0-0 since 1992 ... Arnold already has three goals on the season in just two games. Last year's leading goal scorer (four players) had two goals ... in addition, Patrick Sopko has three assists already, just one shy off the leader from a year ago (two players had four assists) ... Navy has scored eight goals in two games this year after scoring 17 goals in 19 games a year ago.

# GO NAVY #