ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Finding itself in a tight, one-goal game Sunday afternoon was nothing new for the Navy women's soccer team as the squad has been a part of 11 straight games that have ended tied or with a one-goal result dating back to Sept. 21. That experience and composure paid dividends for the Mids as they found themselves in a 90-minute battle with their service academy rivals, the Army Black Knights with the 2019 Patriot League Championship on the line. Trailing early 1-0 as the third-seeded Black Knights (9-7-4) found the back of the net in the 20th minute, the top-seeded Mids (16-2-3) regrouped at halftime and went into full comeback mode with sophomores Carolyn Mang (Forest Hill, Md.) and Victoria Tran (Clarksville, Md.) leading the way. On the strength of Mang's game-tying goal in the 61st minute and Tran's go-ahead goal in the 79th minute, Navy secured its first Patriot League Championship since 2007 much to the delight of its loud, boisterous fanbase at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility on Sunday.
 
"Navy women's soccer players never go down without a fight," exclaimed head coach Carin Gabarra postgame. "After we gave up that first goal, we struggled with our fight and energy a little bit. It's a big game and we had a bit of a letdown, but they always find a way to find some composure and to get out there and battle. They came out in the second half ready to fight. Regardless of what the final score was going to be today, we were not going to leave this field without leaving everything on it.
 
"This team is very special. No matter the opponent or problem that we had to solve this season, this team always found ways to answer it, find ways to score goals and get the job done. This team is mentally tough. They are all very close. Our seniors have been great leaders and have found ways to be very inclusive and to make sure that everyone has a role and a voice; that's so neat. Today was such a special platform, an Army-Navy Patriot League Championship! We were fortunate enough to earn the chance to play at home. Our crowd was fantastic today. Our seniors mantra this year was 'Add to the Legacy' and this was a perfect platform for that."

In a rematch of a September 27 showdown at West Point that saw the Mids edge the Black Knights with a Mang goal in the 74th minute, the action on Sunday was similar as both teams were locked in defensively and forcing their opponent's offense to pick and choose their spots. After the teams combined for 13 shots in their regular season matchup, seven for Navy and six for Army, Sunday's game saw the teams register 14 total shots, though Navy had an advantage at 10-4.
 
After the Mids tallied the first two shots of the game, the Black Knights made their first attempt count when Morgan Walsh dashed through the midfield and found herself in one-on-one with Sydney Fortson in the 20th minute. Unfortunately for the Mids, Walsh slotted her shot low past Fortson to put Army up 1-0.
 
The final 25 minutes of the opening period expired with little movement on the scoreboard as Army took two shots and Navy took two shots. Fortson made a save on the only shot on goal for the Black Knights during this span of play. The Mids' best look came in the waning seconds of the first half when Caitlin Doran (Fr., Queens, N.Y.) was on the receiving end of a Tran pass towards the sideline. The freshman forward then sprinted up the right wing into space before whipping a cross into the box towards a hard-charging Emily Keast (Jr., Springfield, Va.). The exchange was short-circuited by Army's goalkeeper Sydney Cassalia, who met Keast in a physical collision and deflected the pass away from danger.
 
Coming out of the locker room looking to overcome a one-goal deficit, the Mids immediately went to work. Within 10 minutes of kicking off the second half, Navy had tested Cassalia as Jeana Freeman (Fr., Raleigh, N.C.) flicked a header shot on goal. Though unsuccessful, the Mids' offense was finding its footing and quickly challenged Cassalia again less than 90 seconds later as Alex Jackson (Sr., Centennial, Colo.) put a shot on goal at 55:33.
 
This momentum would eventually result in the team's first goal of the day in the 61st minute. After a Sadie McCaleb (Fr., Loganton, Pa.) throw-in was batted around in the box, Keast got underneath the ball and flicked it over her head into space near Mang. Confidently and controlled, Mang gathered the bouncing ball and ripped a low line drive shot to the opposition corner past the outstretched arms of Cassalia.
 
With the score tied at 1-1 and less than 30 minutes left in regulation, Navy and its home crowd was invigorated once again. Over the next 18 minutes both teams would put one shot on goal in hopes of breaking the tie. First up was a soft, looping shot by Army's Alyssa Carfagno that Fortson stopped easily on the hop in the 68th minute. Exhibiting a never-say-die attitude and willingness to find the way to win, Tran took over with a play that will rest in the annals of Patriot League Championship history. On the receiving end of a McCaleb throw-in to the box, Tran chested down the ball, put a spin move on her defender, had her initial shot blocked, but stayed composed and now off her backside spun around and whipped her leg at the ball to put a blast to the far side of the goal with no chance of a Cassalia save.
 
Up 2-1 at 78:28, the Mids' defense tightened up and didn't allow a Black Knight shot the rest of the way to secure the victory and 2019 Patriot League Championship.
 
For the game, Navy outshot Army, 10-4 with a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal. Navy also led in corner kicks, 6-1. Both goalkeepers were credited with two saves in the contest.
 
Sunday's standing room-only attendance was reported at over 1,500 fans.
 
"The crowd was phenomenal" exclaimed Gabarra. "A huge shout out and thank you to the local community, all of our alumni and all of the Midshipmen that were here today. The Midshipmen were so great. They were loud and supportive. Honestly, that could've been the difference maker today for us, the crowd!"
 
The win is the fourth all-time for the Mids as they were victorious in the 2003, 2006 and 2007 Patriot League Championship Finals. In the record books, Navy's 16th win in 2019 is the fifth-most in program history.
 
Following the celebrations, the Patriot League All-Tournament Team was announced and four Mids were honored, Jackson, Mang, Tran and defender Avery Fries (So., Draper, Utah). For her standout play in both the Patriot League Semifinals versus Loyola and Sunday's Final against Army, Mang was selected as the 2019 Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player.
 
"Carolyn has been phenomenal throughout this tournament," reflected Gabarra. "Every time she comes in, she gives us a major boost. She's dominant in the air even though she's not the tallest player that we have, but she stays composed. She uses both of her feet well and she can serve final passes. When the going gets tough, you want her on the ball. Even on that goal, it was not easy. She was under pressure and she found a way to take an extra touch in the box and give herself a better angle and score with her off foot. She made it look easy. Composure is definitely the name of the game with her."
 
The Mids will now turn their attention to Monday's NCAA Tournament Selection Show. Streamed live on NCAA.com beginning at 4:30 p.m., Navy will find out who it will play in the first round next weekend.
 
"This has been a great year," said Gabarra at the closing of her postgame remarks. "It's been such a fun group, they know how to enjoy themselves both on and off the field. They love this program. They love what it's about. They're all good students and they all do well in the hall. This is such a great group. I'm super excited and thrilled for them!"