Oct. 19, 2009

• Live Stats | Follow on Twitter

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy men's soccer team faces a quick turnaround from the weekend, traveling to Durham, N.C., to face No. 21-ranked Duke on Tuesday night, beginning at 7:00 pm. The Midshipmen enter the contest with an 8-6-0 record, while Duke is 8-4-0 overall.

The Midshipmen are coming off a tough 1-0 defeat at the hands of Patriot League-leading American on Saturday night. The game was played in a driving rainstorm that severely hampered Navy's ball-control, possession-style attack. Nonetheless, Navy carried the play for a majority of the game and had several strong chances in the second half. Four of Navy's last seven games have been played in steady rain, but Tuesday's forecast in Durham, N.C., calls for mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures.

Offensively, Navy boasts a balanced attack as 12 different players have scored goals and 14 players have scored points. The 12 players scoring goals equals the most in a season since 1989 when 13 players scored goals and just five players (Mark Garcia, Michael Rakoczy, Wes Powell, Michael Uyehara and Eric Wootten) have scored more than one goal this year. The five players lead the team with two goals each. Garcia and Rakoczy have each dished out four assists, ranking second in the league in assists. Wes Powell has added seven points (2 g, 3 a), while freshmen Michael Uyehara and Eric Wootten both have five points (2 g, 1 a).

As a team, Navy is getting outscored, 18-17, and outshot, 170-159 (12.1 to 11.4 per game). In games that Navy tallies at least one goal this year, the Mids are 8-0-0, and if the game gets into overtime, the Mids have to like their chances. Of Navy's eight wins, four have come in overtime, and since the start of last year, Navy is 7-1-3 in extra-session games.

Defensively, Tyler Bristol owns a 1.31 GAA with a save percentage of .695 (41 saves / 18 GA). He has played all but 45 minutes in goal this year, totaling 1,237 minutes. The school record for goalkeeper minutes in a season is 1,707 by Doug Williams in 1991. With at least five games left, Bristol could threaten the record.

Duke is coming off a 3-0 victory over UNC Greensboro on Oct. 13, and will enter the contest with an 8-4-0 mark and a 2-3-0 record in the always-competive ACC. The Blue Devils' win over UNC Greensboro snapped a two-game losing streak which came on the heels of a 2-0 victory over defending NCAA Champion, Maryland. Duke started the season 7-2-0 and is currently 7-1-0 at home with the lone loss coming to North Carolina State on Oct. 9.

As a team, Duke has outscored its opponents, 18-12, and have outshot its foes, 173-142 (14.4 per game to 11.8). The Blue Devils have scored just four first-half goals, but has outscored its counterparts, 12-7, in the second half.

Leading the way is the dynamic duo of Cole Grossman and Ryan Finley. The duo has accounted for 30 points (11 g, 8 a), while the rest of the team has just 22 points (7 g, 8 a). The pair has six of Duke's eight game-winning goals.

James Belshaw has played 10 games in goal, registering a 1.09 GAA and a .750 save percentage (33 saves / 11 GA) with three shutouts on the season.

Navy leads the all-time series with Duke, 14-1-2, but the Blue Devils are 1-0-1 against Navy in the last two meetings. Tuesday's game between the squads will be the first since a Nov. 3, 1979, contest which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Navy will close out its home season with "Senior Day" on Sunday, Oct. 25, vs. Holy Cross, beginning at 1:00 pm at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. Fans that show their Wake Forest football ticket stub from Saturday's game will receive admission for just $2 at the GWSF ticket window. Also, high school students can receive a $1 ticket with advanced purchase online at www.NavySports.com. For ticket information, call 1-800-US4-NAVY.

# GO NAVY #