Byrne Stops 10 Shots; Scores a Big Goal in Army Win over Rutgers
By Seth Mendelson/CaMMVets Media
Last weekend, Army freshman Brayden Fountain was a hero for the Black Knights, pumping in four goals in his team’s opening-game victory over UMass.
On Saturday, a hero for the Black Knights was junior goalie Sean Byrne, who stopped 10 of 13 shots on goal and scored a rare goal by a goalie when he whipped in a 60-yard shot in the second quarter to help Army knock off Rutgers, 9-3.
Fountain, who scored four more goals on Saturday, and Byrne grew up down the street from each other in Acworth, Ga. and both attended Allatoona High School. Fountain has said that Byrne was a big reason he decided to switch his allegiances from Navy to Army and play for the Black Knights in lacrosse.
Right now, and based on the play of these two players, it is certain that Army coach Joe Alberici is just hoping to keep the Acworth pipeline going well into the future.
“Brayden and I lived down the street from each other and we have known each other, on and off the lacrosse field, for many years,” said Byrne, who has now started eight straight games in the goal for the 12-ranked Black Knights, dating back to the North Carolina game last year. “It is so cool that we are now playing college ball together at West Point and to see him do so well right out of the gate.”
Alberici has his team squarely focused on the regular season and getting Army positioned for its best chance to win the Patriot League post-season tournament and the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament in May. Six of the nine teams make the Patriot League playoffs with the first and second seeds getting a first-round bye and hosting the semifinal games.
But beating a Big 10 team as decisively as Army did cannot hurt the Black Knights resume and does wonders for team morale that they can handle a team from a major conference. Army has now defeated Rutgers three years in a row.
And Alberici has a lot of other things to be happy for—at least two games into the season. Besides the appearance of Fountain and his team-leading eight goals and the solid play of Byrne, the Black Knights defense, led by all-American AJ Pilate and junior John Sullivan has been dominant.
He will need the team to be operating on all cylinders on Wednesday when the Black Knights travel to New Haven, Conn. and a 1 p.m. game with No. 9-ranked Yale. The Bulldogs were upset by Villanova, 13-11, in their opening game on Saturday.
“So far, we have had a couple of different games and different wins,” said Alberici. “The first game we scored 16 goals and then we needed a great defensive game to beat Rutgers last weekend. Yale is as talented as any team we compete against this year. They are loaded and have the makings of a final four-type team. This is going to be a best test for us, going on the road to Connecticut, playing a midweek game and facing a team that is hungry for its first win.”
Last weekend, Army freshman Brayden Fountain was a hero for the Black Knights, pumping in four goals in his team’s opening-game victory over UMass.
On Saturday, a hero for the Black Knights was junior goalie Sean Byrne, who stopped 10 of 13 shots on goal and scored a rare goal by a goalie when he whipped in a 60-yard shot in the second quarter to help Army knock off Rutgers, 9-3.
Fountain, who scored four more goals on Saturday, and Byrne grew up down the street from each other in Acworth, Ga. and both attended Allatoona High School. Fountain has said that Byrne was a big reason he decided to switch his allegiances from Navy to Army and play for the Black Knights in lacrosse.
Right now, and based on the play of these two players, it is certain that Army coach Joe Alberici is just hoping to keep the Acworth pipeline going well into the future.
“Brayden and I lived down the street from each other and we have known each other, on and off the lacrosse field, for many years,” said Byrne, who has now started eight straight games in the goal for the 12-ranked Black Knights, dating back to the North Carolina game last year. “It is so cool that we are now playing college ball together at West Point and to see him do so well right out of the gate.”
Alberici has his team squarely focused on the regular season and getting Army positioned for its best chance to win the Patriot League post-season tournament and the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament in May. Six of the nine teams make the Patriot League playoffs with the first and second seeds getting a first-round bye and hosting the semifinal games.
But beating a Big 10 team as decisively as Army did cannot hurt the Black Knights resume and does wonders for team morale that they can handle a team from a major conference. Army has now defeated Rutgers three years in a row.
And Alberici has a lot of other things to be happy for—at least two games into the season. Besides the appearance of Fountain and his team-leading eight goals and the solid play of Byrne, the Black Knights defense, led by all-American AJ Pilate and junior John Sullivan has been dominant.
He will need the team to be operating on all cylinders on Wednesday when the Black Knights travel to New Haven, Conn. and a 1 p.m. game with No. 9-ranked Yale. The Bulldogs were upset by Villanova, 13-11, in their opening game on Saturday.
“So far, we have had a couple of different games and different wins,” said Alberici. “The first game we scored 16 goals and then we needed a great defensive game to beat Rutgers last weekend. Yale is as talented as any team we compete against this year. They are loaded and have the makings of a final four-type team. This is going to be a best test for us, going on the road to Connecticut, playing a midweek game and facing a team that is hungry for its first win.”
All photos: ARMY ATHLETICS