Armada remain in first place with 0-0 draw

Jacksonville yet to concede a goal in 2017

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The league leading Jacksonville Armada remained unbeaten and un-scored upon after a 0–0 draw with San Francisco Deltas in a matchup of the two top teams in the NASL on Saturday night at Hodges Stadium.

The game featured six yellow cards and physical play from the outset. Just four minutes in, the first skirmish took place.

“There were some interesting moments in that one,” said Defender Aaron Pitchkolan. “I think it started early on in the game with that tackle on Drew [Beckie], I think that kind of set the tone for some of the tackles."

Neither team could find the net, but the Armada did have a few chances, including second half shots by JC Banks and Jack Blake that forced San Francisco goalkeeper Romuald Peiser to make saves.

On the defensive end, the Armada continued to be very organized. For the third straight game, goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell recorded a clean sheet. Jacksonville is the only team in the North American Soccer League yet to concede a goal.

“It’s massive”, said head coach Mark Lowry. “I take as much pride in that as I do scoring at the other end. Three clean sheets in three games tells you how good the guys are that we have back there.”

With the draw, we are not earn a point and now have seven points from their first three matches. That's enough to keep them in first place in the NASL.

Next week, the Armada travel to New York to take on the Cosmos then return home to face Indy Eleven on Saturday, April 29.