ANNAPOLIS, Md. – After winning three of the four four-ball matches on Saturday, the Navy women's golf team (1-0) took five of the eight singles contests against Delaware State (0-1) to secure an 8-4 victory over the Hornets Sunday at the Naval Academy Golf Club.

With the win over DSU, Navy improved its all-time record in dual matches to 6-2, including a 4-1 mark over its last five dual contests.

"It was great to have Delaware State come and play in this match," said head coach Nadia Ste-Marie. "There were so many close matches, it was a really great test for our girls to be in those positions and have to fight. Some came out on top, but all can come away knowing they gave it their all. Every single match, won or lost, was really hard fought. I was proud of our team for getting more comfortable with match play, it's different from what we usually do in stroke play. We were happy to have the opportunity to compete on our course in preparation for the Patriot League Championship next weekend."

Entering Sunday with a 3-1 lead after the aforementioned doubles victories on Saturday, the Midshipmen took the first singles point of the competition as Bridget Hoang (Fr., Lawrenceville, Ga.) defeated the Hornets' Nimah Narinesingh-Smith 6 & 5. The Midshipmen lead would expand to 5-1 just moments later, as Eve Worden (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) earned a 5 & 4 victory against Estelle Verny.

Delaware State would respond following the back-to-back victories for Navy, as Amber Pennington defeated Hannah Han-Kim (Fr., Potomac, Md.) two up and Taylor Simoneau bested Jenna Han (Fr., Mahwah, N.J.), 3 & 2, to reduce the Midshipmen advantage to 5-3.

The run by the Hornets would be halted by Angelina Chan (Jr., Franklin, Tenn.), who earned victory over Jirada Kluaymaingarm in a highly-contested match that took two playoff holes to be decided. With a 6-3 lead in hand, the Mids ultimately secured victory as Tori Smith (Sr., Arlington, Tenn.) earned the seventh and deciding point with a 4 & 3 victory over Nattavadee Khunsri.

Following the clinching point, Mara Hirtle (So., Pinehurst, N.C.) defeated Julie Gauvin in a match that required two additional tiebreaker holes, while Stephanie Lee (So., Southlake, Texas) was downed by Candy Ferreya-Heit in the final match of the day (one up) to finalize the 8-4 decision in favor of Navy.

"Being home the weekend before a championship, or any tournament at home for that matter, is big for us," said Ste-Marie in regard to the upcoming Patriot League Championship Tournament that is set to be hosted in Annapolis. "I felt that it was really important for us to play 18-hole rounds to prepare for next weekend, we are as prepared as we can be heading into next weekend. We've put in the hard work and now its just about trusting that work."

UP NEXT
Following its win over Delaware State, Navy will return to action Friday as it is set to host the Patriot League Championship Tournament at the Naval Academy Golf Club. The three-day tournament will feature 18 holes of competition per day.