Review & preview: Navy
The end of last season kicked off a new series that checked in with the seven Division I programs in the state to evaluate the past and give a glimpse into the future. The series resumes with teams appearing according to the chronological order in which their seasons ended. So Monday begins with a visit with Navy. (Former coach Richie Meade did not return requests for an interview.)
REVIEW
The good: One of the biggest questions the Midshipmen (4-9 overall and 2-4 in the Patriot League) had to answer in the preseason was replenishing an attack that graduated Brendan Connors and Tim Paul and lost junior Ryan O’Leary (9 goals, 8 assists in 2010) to a season-ending knee injury. That dilemma was quickly answered by the introduction of freshmen Tucker Hull and Sam Jones. Hull and Jones led the team in points (38) and goals (23), and Hull was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year. … Faceoffs were an issue last season with Navy winning just 45 percent of draws. That percentage was marginally better this spring (46.9 percent on 137-of-292), but junior Logan West was much improved. After going 64-of-130 for 49.2 percent last year, West won 110-of-211 for 52.1 percent this season. … Jay Mann’s numbers weren’t eye-opening (11 goals and 2 assists), but he proved to be the playmaker from the midfield who could alleviate some of the pressure on Hull and Jones. The sophomore should anchor a midfield that graduates Andy Warner.
The bad: The defense continued its slide from last season. After surrendering 8.7 goals per game – the team’s highest average since 1998 when that squad allowed 10.2 goals – the unit permitted opponents to average 9.6 goals this spring. And that occurred despite the presence of senior defenseman Michael Hirsch, who was selected to the Patriot League first team. … While the attack thrived off of the additions of Hull and Jones, the overall offense took a small step back. After averaging 9.13 goals last year, the unit finished with a 9.08 goals-per-game average this past season. The Midshipmen registered seven games of eight goals or less. … For the first time since joining the Patriot League for the 2004 campaign, Navy finished out of the top four in the conference and failed to qualify for the season-ending Patriot League tournament. The team suffered one-goal losses to eventual conference tournament champion Bucknell and runner-up Colgate and surrendered a four-goal lead in an eventual 14-9 loss to Army on April 16. The Midshipmen have now dropped three straight contests to the Black Knights, matching the program’s longest losing skid to its No. 1 rival.
PREVIEW
Personnel changes: Navy graduates just two starters, but one is midfielder Andy Warner, who led the team in assists (21) and ranked third in points (33). It will be interesting to see if sophomore Cade Norris (1, 1) or freshman Pat Durkin – both of whom played on the second line – can earn a promotion to the starting unit. … In addition to graduating Hirsch, the defense also bids farewell to both starting short-stick midfielders in Marty Gallagher and Brian Striffler and a reserve long-stick midfielder in Tom Mansfield. Sophomore Jay Christopher could fill the void created by Hirsch, while sophomores Jordan Seivold and Brye French might be poised to start at short-stick defensive midfield.
Outlook for 2011: Stormy. The offense loses Warner, putting the onus on Mann and junior Nikk Davis (14, 4) to create from the midfield. Junior Taylor Reynolds posted 10 goals and 2 assists in 13 starts, but could freshman Harrison Chaires (11, 2) join classmates Hull and Jones on the starting attack? The key to the equation is the defense, which must improve and give junior goalkeeper R.J. Wickham (9.26 goals-against average, .491 save percentage) a chance to stop shots. The uncertainty of finding a successor to coach Richie Meade puts the program in an even murkier situation. And Navy trails Bucknell, Colgate, Army and even Lehigh in the race for Patriot League supremacy.
