BALTIMORE, Md. – Freshman back Tanner Vosvick scored his first career goal to lift the Army men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over Loyola in a Patriot League battle of regionally ranked opponents on Saturday evening at Ridley Athletic Complex. With the win, the Black Knights, who stand seventh in the current National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Mid-Atlantic Region poll, improve to 9-1-1 overall and 4-0-0 in conference action, while the Greyhounds, who are ranked fifth in the North Atlantic Region, fall to 5-5-2 and 0-3-1.

Junior goalkeeper Winston Boldt made five saves to notch his ninth shutout of the season, equaling the program record set by Frank Oprandy in 1988 and matched by Lucas Rice in 1992. The victory marks Army’s best start to a season since 1975, when it opened 10-1-0, and is the first time the Black Knights are 4-0 in Patriot League play since 1996.

Senior goalie Zach Kane turned away a pair of shots for the hosts.

“It was a very tough game,” said Army head men’s soccer coach Russell Payne. “Loyola has a very strong team that is very difficult to play against. I’m very proud of Winston Boldt’s effort tonight, he was immense in every part of the game.”

Loyola tested Boldt and the Army defense early, taking a pair of shots on target during a 15-second stretch in the ninth minute. Junior forward Connor Thompson’s initial attempt was blocked away before Boldt saved a header by senior back Jamie Libby. Sophomore forward Cody Guerry and junior back Tommy Jaeger each fired a shot in the ensuing 10:42, but neither attempt got past Kane. Senior midfielder Diego McQuestion’s attempt hit the post in the 27th minute for the hosts before the Greyhounds had two additional chances in the next 1:03. Boldt made his second save of the match in the 30th minute on Loyola’s fourth shot during a span of 3:04 to keep the match tied at 0-0. Vosvick took advantage of a Greyhound foul in the 18-yard box, burying a penalty shot in the 36th minute and putting the Black Knights in front, 1-0. Neither team had a shot in the half’s final 9:14.

Army had four straight shots in the second half’s opening 9:25, but wasn’t able to bolster its lead. Loyola created scoring chances in the 73rd and 74th minutes, respectively, before winning four consecutive corners during a span of 33 seconds. The Greyhounds fired four shots in the final 3:52, but couldn’t beat Boldt and find and equalizer. The most dangerous of Loyola’s final chances came in the 88th minute, when Boldt made a diving save to his right to keep Thompson’s strike from connecting with the back of the net.

“We don’t focus on youth or experience, we focus on details,” Payne said. “If you take care of the details, you give yourself a chance to be successful, and I think that’s where we are right now as a group.”

The Black Knights are back at Clinton Field on Saturday, Oct. 19, when they host American in a Patriot League match at 7 p.m.

Match Notes: Saturday’s contest marked the first-ever meeting between Army and Loyola … junior Winston Boldt made five saves and recorded his ninth shutout of the season to tie Frank Oprandy and Lucas Rice for the most in program history … freshman Tanner Vosvick netted his first career goal, becoming the sixth Army freshman to score this season … the Black Knights improve to 9-1-1, which marks their best start since 1975, when they were 10-1-0 through 11 contests … Army opens Patriot League action 4-0 for the first time since 1996.

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