ARMY PRESS RELEASE
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army senior attackman Justin Bokmeyer scored three goals, while junior attackman Jason Peyer added two goals and two assists to lead the 17/13 Black Knights over 6/6 Navy, 9-6, on Senior Day at Michie Stadium in the annual Star Game, Saturday.
The victory broke a 13-game winless streak for the Black Knights (8-3, 4-1 Patriot League) against the Midshipmen (9-3, 5-1 Patriot League) dating back to a 14-12 victory in Annapolis on April 25, 1997.
“We have been working very hard for this and our time finally came,” said senior goalkeeper Adam Fullerton, who finished with 11 saves, including eight in the second half, for his eighth double-digit performance of the season. “It was frustrating coming up short against Navy so many times, but it just forced us go back to work and try again and that’s what we did. And to finally get a win over them here in Michie Stadium on Senior Day, there is no better way to do it.”
“I thought our defense played very well,” said Army head coach Joe Alberici. “Navy is a very good offense that has been improving all year long and to hold them to six goals is terrific. We didn’t give them many unsettled opportunities and also were able to stay out of penalty trouble. We were very strong on the ball and gave Adam some shots he could save today. He was also able to turn those things into some transition opportunities which were critical to us on the offensive end.”
The Black Knights jumped out to the early lead with three unanswered goals. Bokmeyer kicked things off with a goal at 14:05 off an assist from senior midfielder Mike Hanna, before junior midfielder Kevin LoRusso clanged in a goal off the right pipe off an assist by freshman midfielder Rob McCallion at 12:43. Junior midfielder Alex Rhoads scored from eight yards out to make the score 3-0 at 7:51.
“Getting off to that quick start was amazing for our team confidence,” said Bokmeyer. “The offense really stepped up and we know we can always count on the defense to come up big. We definitely needed them today because we knew it was going to be a close game and a fight to the end. It was a great overall effort by the whole team – 48 strong.”
Navy would battle back with two straight scores to finish the first quarter and tied the game at the 13:33 mark of the second quarter on the first of two goals in the game by sophomore attackman Tim Paul.
Peyer would put the Black Knights back by two at halftime with a pair of goals as the Black Knights led, 5-3, after 30 minutes of play. Peyer’s first goal came off after a feed from freshman midfielder Jeremy Boltus at 6:28, before he stuffed home his second from just outside the left corner of the Navy crease with 2:06 on the second-quarter clock.
Navy opened the third quarter with a goal at 13:49 to get within one, 5-4, but a decisive three-goal run, including two by Bokmeyer, gave Army its largest lead of the game, 8-4, with 2:54 left in the period. Peyer found a cutting Bokmeyer open in front of the Navy goal at 12:08, before Boltus picked up a deflected Navy clearing attempt and struck from eight yards out at 6:25. Bokmeyer rattled home his third goal from 10 yards out off a feed from Peyer to finish the run and give the Black Knights a commanding four-goal lead entering the final quarter.
Navy senior attackman Nick Mirabito, who finished with a team-best three points on a goal and two assists, ripped home an unassisted tally from seven yards out to make it a three goal game, but junior attackman Brooks Korvin had an answer at the 5:33 mark off a feed from LoRusso to put Army back up by four, 9-5.
Navy added a short-handed goal with 1:27 to play, but ran out of time as Army handed the Midshipmen their first loss in the Patriot League since a 6-3 defeat at Colgate on March 18, 2006.
“I’m happy for our seniors because it was something they hadn’t done before and it is going to be something that they will have with them for a lifetime,” said Army coach Joe Alberici. “This is an unbelievable rivalry and I have a tremendous amount of respect for Navy and how hard they play and how talented they are. It is humbling to know our guys were able to win this one.
Continued Alberici, “What I am really pleased with is our collective will to win. Our guys really believed they could win. They were confident and prepared as winners. They executed as winners. They displayed an effort as a winner. More than any single play or any single player, that was the key for us.”
GAME NOTES: The Black Knights were sporting gray uniforms for the game instead of their normal home whites ... senior Adam Fullerton led Army on the field before the game, carrying the American Flag ... Fullerton entered the day ranked seventh nationally in save percentage (.617) and ninth in goals against average (6.77) ... Army’s last victory over Navy was on April 25, 1997 in a 14-12 win in Annapolis. The Black Knights also picked up a 15-8 win in Michie Stadium the year before ... Navy still remains atop the Patriot League standing with a 5-1 record, while Army (4-1) and Bucknell (4-1) each have one remaining conference game to play. Army plays at Lafayette on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., while Bucknell hosts Colgate next Saturday ... Navy entered the game ranked first in the country in scoring defense (4.85), but Army’s nine goals were the second highest total it had allowed all season. The Mids allowed 11 goals in an overtime loss to Georgetown on March 29 ... Army entered the week ranked fifth in scoring defense, only allowing 6.60 goals per game ... 14 Army seniors celebrated Senior Day in a pregame ceremony before faceoff ... the game was broadcast nationally on ESPNU with former Army head coach Jack Emmer doing color commentary ... Army was ranked 13th in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media poll and 17th in the USILA Coaches Poll, while Navy was ranked sixth in both polls ... Army will take on Duke next Saturday at 12:00 p.m. in a game to be played at Manhasset High School on Long Island in a game to be played in honor of former Blue Devil lacrosse player and Army Ranger Jimmy Regan, who was killed in Iraq last year.
