Men’s Soccer Battles American To 0-0 Draw

Saturday, October 17

West Point, N.Y.

7 PM ET

Army West Point

3-4-4, 1-1-2PL

American

9-4-2, 2-2-1PL

OT 3

OT 4

American

Army West Point

Men’s Soccer Battles American To 0-0 Draw

October 17, 2015 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point men's soccer team played to its second draw of the Patriot League season with a 0-0 tie against American on Saturday evening at Clinton Field.

The draw sends the Black Knights to 3-4-4 overall and 1-1-2 in the league, while the Eagles, who are fifth in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America Northeast Region poll, move to 9-4-2 and 2-2-1.

Army senior Chris Britt made three saves for his second shutout of the season, while American's Dylan Hobert finished with two saves and helped the Eagles to their fourth consecutive clean sheet.

"It wasn't the prettiest game in the world," said head coach Russell Payne. "There could have been more flow on both sides of the ball, but sometimes you have to take what the game gives you and find a way to be successful. We're pleased that Chris kept a clean sheet and defended well and I thought Cody Guerry and Nick Williams were dangerous for us up top. We found a way to get a point and we would have liked more, but we'll move on."

American controlled possession early on in the first half, but was unable to register a shot, despite creating a number of opportunities in its offensive third.

Army senior Cameron Niccum recorded the first shot of the match with a header that was saved by Hobert in the fourth minute before junior Tanner Vosvick and Guerry accounted for shots in the 20th and 22nd minutes, respectively. Vosvick's shot was a free kick chance that sailed high of American's net, while Guerry's attempt was blocked by an Eagle defender.

The Black Knights were awarded consecutive corner kicks in the 23rd minute, which resulted in headers wide of the net by Niccum and freshman Christian Lue Young, respectively.

The Eagles accounted for their first shot of the match in the 45th minute, as Panos Nakhid fired a shot on target from 22 yards out that was stopped by Britt for the first of his three saves in the contest.

Britt helped Army keep potential American goal scorers at bay, as the Eagles looked for the game's first tally midway through the second half. Britt made a diving save to keep out a hard shot by American's Joe Iraola in the 65th minute before the senior goalkeeper intercepted a long touch by Dale Ludwig inside the 18-yard box in the 67th minute.

American's Kibu Mbaluku nearly put his team on the board in the 72nd minute, but sent his shot just wide of the right post. Army quickly responded with a dangerous scoring chance of its own when Guerry pushed his shot wide of the right post from the middle of American's 18-yard box in the 77th minute.

Ludwig had two chances late in regulation, as he directed a header on target that Britt saved in the 81st minute before sending a second header into the Black Knights' defense in the 88th minute. Senior Tommy Jaeger, who started in his second match of the season, posted the final shot of the second half with an attempt that was saved in the 89th minute.

Both teams registered one shot during the first overtime period, but neither resulted in the game-winning goal as Army played into a second overtime session for the fifth time this year.

Army junior Christian Clark created the best chance of the second overtime, sending a header wide of the far post after a corner kick from the right corner flag by Jaeger in the 106th minute.

Army closes out its current three-game homestand on Tuesday, Oct. 20 with a match against Rutgers scheduled for 7 p.m.

MATCH NOTES: Army and American played to their third straight 0-0 draw … both matches last season ended in scoreless shutouts, including Army advancing past American, 4-3, on penalty kicks during the 2014 Patriot League quarterfinals … the all-time series moves to 10-3-4, in favor of American … Britt finished with his second shutout of the season.