WEST POINT N.Y. – Freshman back Trase Stapley netted his first college goal in the 104th minute as the Army men’s soccer team topped Fordham, 1-0, in double overtime on Saturday night at Clinton Field. The Black Knights improve to 5-0 after the win, equaling their best start since 1997, while the Rams drop to 2-3.

Army’s fifth consecutive shutout to open a season is the most in the 92-year history of the men’s soccer program. Saturday’s victory also marked the fourth match in which a freshman has tallied the game-winning goal, and the first contest in which a defender scored the deciding marker.

Freshman midfielder Christian Ollen notched his first career point as he collected the assist on Stapley’s game winner, while freshman back Tanner Vosvick recorded the secondary assist for his first point. Junior goalkeeper Winston Boldt made a pair of saves to bring his career-high mark for shutouts in a season to five.

“I couldn’t be more please for Trase (Stapley),” said Army head coach Russell Payne. “He’s battled and he’s played every minute back there, and for him to win the game like that is incredible. Fordham is a very good team, they’re very hard to break down and it took almost 100 minutes, but we found a way.”

Fordham graduate student Alex Naples made two saves in his fifth start of the season.

Army had the upper hand early on in the match, as it held a 5-2 advantage in shots during the first half’s opening 29:14. Junior back Sean Mogan registered three of the Black Knight’s five first-half attempts, including the team’s only shot on goal in the stanza, which came in the sixth minute. Sophomore back Cameron Niccum had Army’s most dangerous attempt of the half, as he lifted a shot just over the crossbar in the 30th following sophomore midfielder Justin Kim’s corner kick from the left side.

Army started the second half right where it left off the first, taking five shots during a stretch of 3:40 early in the frame. The Rams responded with the next three shots, but neither team was able to solve the opposing defense in regulation.

Fordham notched two shots to Army’s one in the first overtime period, with neither team creating any dangerous chances. In the second overtime, freshman forward Ethan Spivack fired a shot on frame before being denied by Naples in the 102nd minute. Stapley’s goal game just 1:06 later, as he buried a shot into the top left corner of the goal after back-to-back passes from Ollen and Vosvick.

Army returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 18, when the Black Knights hit the road for just the second time this season to face Quinnipiac at 4 p.m.

Match Notes: Army improves to 13-11-3 all-time versus Fordham … freshman back Trase Stapley netted his first career goal … freshmen Christian Ollen and Tanner Vosvick tallied their first college points … junior Winston Boldt notched his ninth career shutout, and fifth of the season … Boldt became the first Army goalie to record four shutouts in a season since 2007 when A.J. Glubzinski notched six clean sheets … the Black Knights improve to 5-0 for the first time since 1997, and for the first time under fourth year head coach Russell Payne … Army begins its season with five consecutive shutouts for the first time in program history.

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