HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Navy women's soccer team carried over its winning ways into Patriot League play as the Mids extended their winning streak to eight games with a 1-0 decision over the Colgate Raiders in the Patriot League opener for both teams. In a matchup of two squads that were picked to finish near the top of the conference standings, the Mids (9-1, 1-0 PL) received a second half goal by Kristina Dzhandzhapanyan (Jr., Diamond Bar, Calif.) and a critical team save from Kaitlynn Johns (Fr., Austin, Texas) off the goal line in the 72nd minute that helped preserve the victory over the Raiders (1-6-1, 0-1 PL) at Beyer-Small '76 Field.
 
"As with most conference games, this outcome could've gone either way," reflected head coach Carin Gabarra after the contest. "The ending of one-goal games are always a little more packed with tension and tonight was no different. Our defense deserves a lot of credit for standing strong late. This is a tough place to play and they [Colgate] are a very good team. This wasn't our best effort, but at the end of the day we're happy to come away with a hard fought road win."
 
In a game that was dominated by strong, physical midfield play throughout the majority of the first half, quality scoring chances were hard to come by for both teams in the opening 45 minutes. Navy received its first opportunity 15 minutes into the game as Dzhandzhapanyan curled a cross into the box where a pair of Midshipmen attackers battled with Colgate's defense for the loose ball. After some physical play, the host Raiders were able to clear the ball away.
 
The game's first shot on goal came in the 29th minute when Hannah Miller (So., Mattawan, Mich.) took a pass over the top, dribbled through a defender and into the 18-yard box before unleashing a shot on goal low to the right requiring Colgate's keeper, Kelly Chiavaro, to dive and push the ball wide.
 
Later in the first half, Colgate had its first significant chance to break onto the scoreboard in the 38th minute as the Raiders played a cross deep into the box. Faced with a one-on-one situation, Johns tackled the ball off the forward's foot and out of bounds for a corner kick.
 
Colgate's first shot on goal came with just over a minute left in the first half as Sage DiGiulio put a well-struck attempt low on frame. Sydney Fortson (Sr., Claremont, Calif.) was up to the task and kept the game at 0-0 stalemate.
 
For the half, the teams combined for five total shots, three for Colgate and two for Navy.
 
Three minutes into the second half, Colgate nearly broke the tie as a corner kick into the box resulted with shot towards frame by Emily Amano that was blocked by a nearby Navy defender.
 
In the 55th minute, Baseley McClaskey (Sr., Grand Junction, Colo.) put another shot on goal for the Mids, though Chiavaro had little trouble with the lengthy attempt.
 
Less than three minutes after McClaskey's shot, Dzhandzhapanyan got Navy on the scoreboard at 56:52 when she was on the receiving end of a header flick-on by Jeana Freeman (Fr., Raleigh, N.C.) at the back side of the net for the easy put-in. The goal was her first of the 2019 season. Johns started the play with a cross in from the left wing.
 
Colgate looked to eliminate its one-goal deficit as within the next two minutes, the Raiders worked down the field and had numbers, setting up a dangerous cross from the left wing that forced Fortson to jump off her line and cut off the pass in the air.
 
Navy continued its shutout cause in the 72nd minute when Johns extended her leg and deflected a Leah Lewis shot on goal off of the line at the tail end of a chaotic corner kick situation.
 
The last 18 minutes consisted of more of the same as Colgate continued to attack Navy's defense in hopes of finding that game-tying goal. The Raiders were credited with three shots down the stretch including an Adrienne Vaughn strike on goal as time was expiring. Fortunately for the visitors from Annapolis, the Mids' defense stood up against all attempts to secure the 1-0 shutout win.
 
For the game, Colgate outshot Navy, 11-7. The Raiders also held a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
 
The Mids will now turn their attention to a Friday road matchup against their archrivals, the Army Black Knights. The kickoff in West Point is set for 7 p.m. at Clinton Field.