University of Delaware Athletics
Hens Put on Offensive Display in Second Half, Down Navy 5-3 (Sept. 14, 2011)
9/14/2011 3:56:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Boxscore
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- It was a high scoring affair Wednesday night in Annapolis, Md. as the University of Delaware men's soccer team put together an offensive
display not seen since 2004, defeating the U.S. Naval Academy 5-3.
Glenn Warner Field has been a place of comfort for Delaware. The Hens' last win over the Midshipmen came at that site in 2009 with a 2-0 result during the Navy Tournament. All-time, the Hens improve to 6-9-2 against Navy, including a 3- 5-1 mark in Annapolis.
“Tremendous game for the lads tonight. Evans (Frimpong) and Roberto (Giménez) were a joy to watch at times with their movement,” said Delaware head coach Ian Hennessy, who is 2-1-1 against the Naval Academy since taking over the program in 2006. “The supporters of both programs will have been pleased with the quality of goals from both sides tonight and full credit to Navy for pushing us to the limit.”
The victory gives Delaware an overall mark of 3-0-1. It is the first time Delaware has won three of its first four games win 1995 when the Hens opened with a 3- 1-0 record.
A sophomore and playing in his first season of intercollegiate soccer, Giménez led the Hens impressive offense, putting in two goals and handing out two assists for a career-high six points. Seniors Kyle Ellis and Frimpong each tallied a marker while freshman Kyle Nuel accounted for the fifth goal.
Senior Kris Devaux got the nod in goal for the Hens, improving his season record to 2-0. Devaux played all 90 minutes of the game and made two saves.
The Blue Hens jumped out to an early lead and held on until late in the second half. Ellis tucked away his second goal of the season, sending in a shot from the right wing that was tipped into the goal by Navy goalkeeper Aaron Dupere in the 32nd minute.
Both teams defense settled in the rest of the first half as the Hens enjoyed a 1-0 lead going in the break.
Delaware extended its lead as Giménez extended his point-scoring streak to four games with his first goal of the tilt in the 51st minute. Giménez corralled a loose ball just outside the box before taking a shot for the 2-0 lead.
But the Mids (1-3-2) answered back to cut the lead to 2-1 as Alex Wilson found the back of the net just three minutes later, turning on a pass from Michael Rakoczy.
Giménez once again gave Delaware a two-goal lead after deking a defender and tallying his fourth marker of the season less than a minute after the Midshipmen goal.
Navy's David Jackson cut the Hens' lead back down to one in the 63rd minute. Blake Busse set up the goal, allowing Jackson to barrel into the box and put a head on the ball.
The Midshipmen knotted things up a 3-3 as Joseph Greenspan put one away in the 75th minute as Busse tallied his second helper of the evening.
Playing in just the fourth game of his young career, freshman Kyle Nuel put the Hens back on top 4-3 on a Giménez assist. It marks the first time this season two first-year Blue Hens had both the goal and assist. The marker also set a season-high goals for the Hens this year, bringing the team's average back up to 3.0 per game
But it was Frimpong who put the game away for good, giving Delaware its fifth goal of the night. Not surprising, it was Giménez who had the assist.
The goal total was the first time UD hit the five-goal mark under Hennessy, and the Hens' highest since Sept. 15, 2004 when they defeated Mount Saint Mary's 7-2.
With their third victory of the year, the Hens remain undefeated in regular season play, having won or tied each of its last seven games.
Delaware controlled the offense throughout the 90 minutes of action, out-shooting the Midshipmen 19-9. The Hens also held a 6-1 advantage on the corners. Delaware was whistled for eight fouls while the Midshipmen were called twice. Both teams went off-sides just once each. Delaware's Yoan Fontaine was given the games only card in the 66th minute.
Delaware will put another streak on the line Sunday afternoon at Delaware Mini-Stadium when it hosts Ivy League foe Columbia University. Delaware has won each of its last six games at home. The streak will be put to the test at 3:30 p.m.
