Johnny Victory's post-game notes: Army vs. NJIT

Working on two days rest, Army faced off against NJIT (0-3) Tuesday afternoon on Blain Field at Michie Stadium. You never would have been able to tell Army was the team with the short turnaround. On the heels of its 18-6 throttling of UMass the Black Knights (2-0) were at it again, hitting double digit goals for the second game in a row in crushing NJIT, 14-5.

MORE OF THE SAME: Army again rode its stellar defense and patient, (mostly) efficient offense. Much like it had Saturday against UMass, Army again picked its spots offensively converting on 9 of 13 shots in the first half to stake out to a 9-1 lead. For the game, they took 49 shots. Defensively they were once again stellar as the nation’s seventh-ranked scoring defense allowed just 5 goals on 10 shots.

MUCH IMPROVED: After struggling a bit against Gorilla Lax Saturday at the faceoff X, Army returned with a much improved game there winning 20 of 23 face-offs and generally controlling the action all day. Senior middie John Ragno was a beast winning 12 of 13 restarts while junior middie Evan Condon won 5 of 6.

OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS: Army has now outscored its first two opponents, 32-11.

THIS ONE WAS OVER: When they scheduled it. The Highlanders were clearly no match for the nation’s 13th-ranked ranked team. Army dictated tempo all day long and NJIT was lucky to even get a clean look at the goal, let alone a shot, on most possessions.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: Army long pole Johnny Surdick was particularly effective completing several nasty checks which results in NJIT turnovers. Overall the Army defense caused 26 turnovers and AJ Baretto was once against stout in goal, coming up just short of the shutout. He spent the second half on the bench as senior Paul Newbold, Matt Isnardi, junior Matt Koziol and freshman Greg Coleman spelled him in relief. The Black Knights also did a good job containing the Highlanders top-three of Ryan Darrow, Cole Robillard and Aaron Forester.

OFFENSIVE POG: With his goal at the 9:42 mark of the third, Army attackman Nate Jones picked up his second hat trick of the season. Army sophomore middie Matt Manown scored his first two goals of the season and added a helper while Nate Jones, Ted Glesener, Conor Glancy and David Symmes all continued to find the net, adding their 6th and 5th goals of the season, respectively.

DEFENSIVE POG: Baretto was once again outstanding stopping all but one shot he faced. Manown also caused three turnovers. All things considered, NJIT goalie Nick Marzullo played well making several nice point-blank stops but was under pressure all afternoon long. After sitting on the bench the entire game, Coleman came in and made a nice save with a minute left, stoning Robillard on the doorstep.

THE BIG QUESTION: How well, if at all, have two overmatched opponents properly prepared the Black Knights for their first real competition of the season in Rutgers and Syracuse?

3 orange slices: Jones (3g, 0a), Manown (2g, 1a), Baretto

2 orange slices: Glesener (2 g, 0a), Symmes (2g, 0a),

1 orange slice: Forster (3g, 1a) Robillard (2g, 1a), Marzullo (15 saves)