ANNAPOLIS, Md. – With freezing rain falling throughout the day, the #21 Navy women's lacrosse team (1-0) posted a 10-4 victory over George Mason (0-1) on Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The icy conditions benefited the defense as both teams were able to force turnovers, but the Mids were able to capitalize notching double-digit goals while limiting the Patriots to just four scores.
 
"It was like playing in Lambeau Field," head coach Cindy Timchal said of the icy conditions. "We were doing more of the running game because the passing game wasn't going to be there. Everything was literally frozen. I am so proud of the team for being resilient."
 
The Mids did not let the weather get to them as they were just happy to return to the field.
 
"It has been 300 and something days since we have played," Timchal said after Navy's first game in 339 days and first home game in 356 days. "It was a big home opener for Navy women's lacrosse, starting out the 2021 season. It really is a tribute to our staff and the athletics department, providing us this opportunity. Our team, today, was so ready to play."
 
Offensively, Navy tallied 10 goals on the day, led by senior Nicole Victory (Issaquah, Wash.). Victory finished the game with a team-high four goals. She was joined by Reagan Roelofs (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Ellie Lecker (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) who chipped in two goals apiece, while Athena Corroon (Greenwich, Conn.) and Karoline Nease (Richmond, Va.) each found the back of the net. Corroon, Nease, Roelofs, and Grace Zagaja (Centerport, N.Y.) accounted for Navy's assists.
 
The Midshipmen earned extra offensive opportunities by controlling the draw controls. Navy won 13 of 15 draws with Roelofs coming away with a team-high 10 draws. Lecker added a pair and Erin Carson (New Albany, Ohio) contributed one.
 
Defensively, Navy was able to hold George Mason to just four goals on the day. The Mids caused 10 of the Patriots' 24 total turnovers. Senior captain Caroline Kwon (Cooksville, Md.) led the team with three caused turnovers, while Roelofs and Lecker added two CTs apiece.
 
Navy converted 14 of 18 clears on the day, while the Mids' defense helped disrupt the Patriots' flow allowing George Mason to convert only 14 of 26 clear attempts.
 
In the first half, Navy was the first team to score. Victory found the back of the net just over five minutes into the game to put the Mids up 1-0. George Mason responded with a goal, but Roelofs broke the 1-1 tie with her first goal of the game. Lecker added to the lead with her first score of 2021 with eight and a half minutes to play. With just 24 ticks on the clock, Corroon put the Mids up 4-1 with a goal. Navy got the ball back on the ensuing draw and used a goal from Victory as time expired to take a 5-1 advantage into halftime.
 
George Mason opened the second half with a goal, but three straight goals by Nease, Lecker, and Victory pushed the advantage to 8-2. The Patriots trimmed the margin with back-to-back scores, but goals by Roelofs and Victory put the game out of reach at 10-4.
 
Navy returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 20, as the Mids take on Mount St. Mary's as part of a doubleheader with the Navy men's lacrosse team. Opening draw for the women's game is slated for 3:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.