“There’s going to be some growing pains, and I think you saw that on Saturday,” said Amplo, whose team plays host to Jacksonville on Sunday. “The game is not easy in a half-field set, especially if you don’t have experience and confidence. Until our kids grow up a little bit, especially in the midfield, I think it’s going to be a grind down at that end.”
Fortunately for Amplo, there are encouraging signs on defense. Senior Nick Franchuk is a mainstay, and Jackson Bonitz is one of the most heralded freshman defensemen in the country. Throw in the reliable Andrew McKenna, who has made 32 consecutive starts and helped limit the Mount’s Luke Frankeny to one goal and two assists, and Navy has a stable group at close defense.
While Amplo is reluctant to describe Navy as being further along competitively than at this point a season ago, he readily acknowledges the Mids’ knowledge of the defense has grown considerably in the last year.
“They love it and they can teach it now,” Amplo said. “I feel like if Nick Franchuk and Andrew McKenna had to be the defensive coordinators if, God forbid, [assistant] John Orsen got COVID, they could. They can step in and teach the defense that he’s put in place. To me, that’s a sign of potentially a good team and a good unit down at that end.”
NUMBERS OF NOTE
6-2
Boston University is 6-2 all-time in season openers after a 15-12 victory over Merrimack on Saturday. Junior Timmy Ley scored a career-high six goals, and Matt Garber made 17 saves in his first career start for the Terriers, who will go for their first 2-0 start since 2017 on March 6 when they play host to No. 7 Army.
3
Three conferences entered the week with an aggregate record above .500: The ACC (11-1), the America East (2-1) and the Patriot League (4-3). Two caveats worth mentioning: The Metro Atlantic has yet to start its season, and both it and the Big Ten are playing league-only schedules and will finish with an aggregate winning percentage of .500 barring any hastily concocted non-conference games.
20
Maryland routed Michigan 20-9 in its opener, the most goals scored by the Terrapins in a conference game since a 25-7 defeat of Duke in 1983.
61
Virginia midfielder Charlie Bertrand has scored a goal in each of his 61 career games, including a two-goal showing in the Cavaliers’ 15-12 victory at Loyola on Saturday. Bertrand’s streak doubles as the nation’s longest active streak with at least one point.