Oct. 21, 2007

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Playing its fourth straight Patriot League game on the road, the Navy women's soccer team battled league leader American to a 2-2 double-overtime tie Sunday afternoon at the Reeves Athletic Complex in Washington, D.C. The Mids have turned in a program-tying four ties this season, including a pair in Patriot League play.

American held the early advantage in the game, as the Eagles' leading scorer Kelsey Brasher booted in the first of her two goals on the afternoon at the 33:10 mark. The Eagles owned an 8-3 shots advantage, putting four of the eight on goal as Navy keeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) stopped three shots in the opening half.

Navy regrouped and came out of the locker room a more intense team in the second half. The Mids got on the scoreboard in the 54th minute when senior forwards Brigitte Fox (La Mesa, Calif.) and Kari Weniger (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) worked together to get Navy back into the game. Weniger served through to Fox who outran American's defense and produced her seventh goal of the year. The goal pushed her career total to 23, tying Kristen Riismandel (1996-99) for the sixth-most goals in program history. Meanwhile, she moved into a tie for eighth on the Mids' career points list alongside Michelle Nance (1996-99) with 59.

Less that two minutes later, Navy took a 2-1 lead when sophomore defender Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) headed in her second goal of the season. The play began with a corner kick that was popped out to the top of the box where Navy sophomore Lauren Bresnahan (Weston, Fla.) fired off a shot. The ball hit the crossbar and sailed straight up in the air with Moeller standing on the goal line to head in the ball at 55:42.

American knotted up the game at 60:10 when assist leader Krystn Hodge fed Brasher for her 11th goal of the year, sending the game into extra minutes.

Both teams earned a shot on goal in overtime, Navy taking its shot in the first OT, while American sent its shot in the second extra period.

Sunday's result marks just the second time in the 13-game history that American and Navy have tied and the first since the 2002 regular-season matchup led to a 1-1 tie in Washington, D.C.

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Bucknell takes sole possession of the conference lead with a 4-0-0 record and 12 points. American is second with a 3-0-1 mark and 10 points, while Army remains third with a 3-1-0 record and nine points. At 1-1-2, Navy holds its spot in fourth with five points just ahead of Lehigh who is fifth with a 1-2-1 record and four points. Colgate and Holy Cross each own three points with a 1-3-0 record, while Lafayette remains winless in league competition at 0-4.

The Midshipmen return to action next weekend when they play host to archrival Army on Friday at 7:00 pm and Holy Cross on Sunday at 1:00 pm. The first 150 fans through the gates next Friday will receive a free white Navy t-shirt as Navy will look to white-out the Black Knights.