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One of the biggest rivalries in college soccer will be renewed this September at Talen Energy Stadium when the men's soccer teams from the Army and Navy service academies square off for the fifth straight year in Chester.
The game will be played on Friday evening, September 23, according to a press release from the Philadelphia Union.
"In less than five years, this match has become the premier fan spectacle in college soccer," Union Chief Business Officer Tim McDermott said in the news release. "Any time these two academies come together in sports, they are truly must-see events and I’m so enthused to ensure our stadium will continue to be the home of this match."
After starting with a modest attendance of 3,672 in the first year in 2012, the annual event has consistently attracted one of the largest crowds of the college soccer season. Last year, the attendance mark of 9,316 more than doubled that of the College Cup final at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City and only UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly's two matches drew more than the 10,168 that came out in 2014.
On the field, the Army West Point Cadets snapped a two-game losing streak in the Cup with a 2-1 win last October after losing in heartbreaking fashion on Midshipmen goals in overtime. The teams tied 1-1 in the first year.
Strategically located about halfway between the two campuses, the Philadelphia region has a long history with the rivalry, having hosted the Army-Navy football game 86 of the 117 times it's been played.
The men's soccer game was held at alternating campus locations prior to 2012 and like the football rivalry has been dominated by Navy, which holds a 40-28-1 all-time record in the regular season Patriot League fixture.