BALTIMORE – Playing its first game in a month, the Navy women's soccer team came away with an important Patriot League South divisional win over Loyola courtesy of an overtime golden goal from Caitlin Doran (So., Queens, N.Y.) on Saturday night. Scoreless through 90 minutes of regulation action, the Mids (1-4, 1-1 PL, 1-0 PL So.) and Greyhounds (2-1, 2-1 PL, 1-1 PL So.) found themselves in overtime, a place that they went to in each of their two meetings in 2019. In extra time, Doran flicked on a free kick from Avery Fries (Jr., Draper, Utah) over Loyola's goalkeeper, who had left her line to challenge the cross, to earn the walk-off sudden victory after 93:31 of action at the Ridley Athletic Complex.
 
"That was a completely even game between two divisional rivals," remarked head coach Carin Gabarra. "It was a story of two halves, in the first half, Loyola was the stronger and crisper team; we looked like a team that wasn't able to practice for 21 days. As the game moved along, we started getting back to Navy soccer, we were more aggressive, quicker to the ball and connecting our passes better. In the end, it came down to us executing on a set piece in overtime, Avery put a great ball into traffic and Caitlin was able to get a head on it for the winner. That was a great result. Changing a tie to a win, especially against a divisional opponent is really important.
 
"I'm really proud of every member of our team. Every single active player we had today saw time and had an important role. They played with so much heart and did what it took to help us get this victory."
 
Coming off a 21-day period of ROM (restriction of movement) mandate for all members of the Naval Academy, the Mids, who started practice on Monday, had a slow ramp up into game action over the opening 45 minutes on Saturday night. As a team, the visitors were only able to muster two total shots in the first half.
 
Navy's first high percentage scoring opportunity came in the 15th minute when Katie Herrmann (Fr., Charlotte, N.C.) collected a loose ball at the top of the 18-yard box following a corner kick and rocketed a shot that had eyes for the net, but sailed just high. Prior to that, Loyola had recorded two of the game's first three shots.
 
With the Mids' offense not finding many chances deep in the Greyhounds, their defense was leaned upon heavily in the first half as they blocked a pair of shots towards goal in the opening 30 minutes.
 
Loyola tallied the final two shots of the first half, one of which required Mattie Gallagher (Fr., Gilbertsville, Pa.) to be active, as Kelly Hutton's shot in the 37th minute was well struck and aimed low for the near post. The freshman keeper dove on the incoming ball to continue the scoreless action.
 
At the half, Loyola was outshooting Navy, 6-2.
 
Taking advantage of its limited opportunities, Navy nearly broke onto the scoreboard in the 47th minute when Kassidy Borden (Fr., Leesburg, Va.) lined up for a free kick 30 yards out and ripped a shot that flew over the crossbar.
 
The first officially credited shot on goal of the game came in the 63rd minute when Loyola's Sarah Bayer took an off-balanced shot near the six-yard box that Gallagher saved with ease.
 
The visitors registered their first shot on target in the 78th minute courtesy of Jenna Daunt (Fr., Haymarket, Va.). The freshman forward received a crisp pass to her feet from Herrmann and quickly turned her body towards goal, unleashing a shot on frame that was met by Loyola's keeper, Paige Sim.
 
With less than eight minutes remaining in regulation and the game still tied, the Greyhounds turned up their intensity in the offensive third as the hosts took two shots in quick succession, the first of which that was blocked and the second which was save by Gallagher. Those were the final two shots for either team in regulation.
 
As 90 minutes wasn't enough time to decide a victor, the teams turned their attention to sudden victory overtime. Navy had the first quality look at ending it in the 92nd minute as Carolyn Mang (Jr., Forest Hill, Md.) soared above a crowd of bodies deep in the box and snapped a header that found Sim's hands on the goal line.
 
Just two minutes later, Doran found success with her header attempt as she met Fries' free kick approximately 12 yards out and looped the ball over Sim, who had charged off her line to jump at the incoming free kick. The goal was the second of Doran's young career as she scored against Pitt in Navy's abbreviated fall non-conference schedule in 2020.
 
For the game, the teams combined for 18 shots, nine for each of Navy and Loyola. The visiting Mids had a slim 3-2 advantage in shots on goal. Gallagher denied both Greyhound shots on goal to earn her first collegiate shutout.
 
"We're extremely happy with tonight's result," said Gabarra in closing. "We're only to be getting stronger, fitter and deeper. The best soccer this spring is ahead for Navy Women's Soccer."
 
Navy will continue its play versus Patriot League Southern divisional opponents with a road matchup at Bucknell on Wednesday. First touch between the Mids and Bison is set for 7 p.m. in Lewisburg, Pa.