NEW LONDON, Conn. (Sept. 12, 2026) - The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's soccer team played arch-rival Coast Guard to a 0-0 draw on Saturday afternoon at Nitchman Field. The Mariners' record moved to 1-2-3 while the Bears moved to 2-2-1.
Game Link
Coast Guard generated a pair of opportunities in the opening half. Senior goalkeeper Ethan Howell (Alexandria, Va.) stepped up in the 14th and 21st minutes to keep the game scoreless, turning away two opportunities from Noah Nichol. The Blue and Gray responded with a pair of late chances as junior Robert Derwin (East Meadow, N.Y.) had two of his shots denied in the 41st and 43rd minutes by Coast Guard goalkeeper Samuel Linkous to send the teams into halftime locked at 0-0.
Merchant Marine looked to break through early in the second half in the 49th minute, but junior Colin Robertson (Milford, Mich.) was stonewalled by Linkous and also denied on another attempt in the 70th minute. Senior Andrew Jung (Fairfax, Va.) provided another opportunity for the Mariners in the 79th minute, but Linkous made another important save to keep it 0-0. The Bears responded with a pair of late chances of their own, but Howell stopped Cole Miller in the 83rd minute and James Melia in the 88th minute to help secure the 0-0 draw.
The teams finished even with 12 shots apiece, while Coast Guard held a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Howell and Linkous each posted clean sheets. Howell made four saves for the Mariners, while Linkous stopped five shots for the Bears.
The Mariners return home on Wednesday, Sept. 16, when they open Skyline Conference play against Mount St. Vincent at 7 p.m. at Raymond J. Bartoszek Field.
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