Army-Navy set for new chapter in rivalry

by Travis Clark

November 7, 2014

The Army-Navy rivalry is a dominant force in the American collegiate sports universe, with the clash of the two service institutions a highlight on the football calendar.

But it’s a rivalry that transcends most sports at the two academies as well, and on Friday night (7 p.m., American Sports Network) the Army and Navy men’s soccer programs will wrap up their Patriot League regular season schedules at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.

It marks the third meeting of the two programs at the neutral venue, which is becoming a fast favorite of both teams.

“I think the last two years have been a super experience for our guys and I’m assuming for Russell [Payne] and the Army guys as well,” Navy head coach Dave Brandt told reporters in a press conference. “Fantastic venue, just a neat, neat experience for both sets of players.”

Dubbed the Army-Navy Cup, the recent strides that the programs have made under Brandt and Army head coach Russell Payne have helped raise the stature of the meeting. The Midshipmen won last year’s Patriot League regular season and conference tournament title, along with a first round tournament game against VCU. Last season’s November meeting at PPL Park drew an announced crowd of 7,416 people, higher than the attendance at the College Cup later in 2013 at the same venue.

Several of the same standouts from last fall’s edition – a 1-0 win for Navy on a goal from Joseph Greenspan, a senior center back this season – return for Friday night’s meeting. Greenspan anchors the Navy back line, while the offense, the highest-scoring in the Patriot League, is led by junior forward Jamie Duboyski. Army counters with goalkeeper Winston Boldt, a Second Team NSCAA All American in 2013 who has a goals against average of 0.88 this year.

It’s become a special occasion for the players to have an opportunity and showcase a fierce rivalry at a pro soccer stadium, roughly hallway between the two schools.

“Not too many times do they have the chance to walk out of the tunnel of an MLS stadium, where one side is completely full and they’ve been treated like pure professionals from the moment they step foot here into the arena,” Payne said. “This is kind of like their Theater of Dreams, their Camp Nou – whatever team they support – this is their opportunity to be in that kind of environment. We love our campus environments, I know Dave’s had some great crowds over the years and we’ve done the same, but this sort of rises that tide. We both get good spillover from the spectacle.”

Added Brandt: “It’s good for everybody: the Union, the area, both institutions and college soccer in general.”

While both teams have clinched a spot in the Patriot League conference tournament, and Navy’s (10-4-4) assured the No. 2 seed and a first round bye, Friday’s encounter is a chance for Army (6-6-5) to finish either fourth or fifth with a win against Navy and some help elsewhere in the conference.

Of course, bragging rights are always on the line when the two teams meet, a fact that isn’t lost on either coach, who will make sure that they go through the appropriate preparations.

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“They’re always aware of the significance, and that’s important, because of all the specific things that go into the tradition; they should be aware of those things, should appreciate those things, but should always be aware what got them there as players, what got the team there,” Payne said. “That’s the way we approach this game. It’s always three points that are out there in the Patriot League, it’s still a game against a very good opponent at a great venue.”

The setting of the rivalry meeting, at the home of MLS side Philadelphia Union, is a nod to the Army-Navy football game, which has taken place in Philly 85 times, by far the most often.

It’s a setting and format that both programs like, and aren’t planning on changing anytime soon.

“I like the neutral site personally, and would be fine the other way,” Brandt said. “If you’re going to be for us at West Point one year and in Annapolis the next, then one year you sense that really difficult, you’ve got a big crowd against you and you’re playing away from home and all those dynamics, the next year it’s the same thing for them and it’s even in that respect but it’s this big swing. I like especially for a rivalry of this significance, to come to a neutral site like this, it’s the same for the both of us, every year, then you just play and get the game going.”

And the game won’t be going anywhere, as it is contracted to be at PPL Park through the 2017 season.

Quotes provided by Kevin Kinkead.