HAMILTON, N.Y. – The No. 22 women's lacrosse team (10-2, 4-0 Patriot League) used a stellar defensive performance to post a 12-5 road victory against Colgate (2-10, 1-3) on Saturday afternoon at Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, N.Y.
 
"We had a great game," head coach Cindy Timchal said. "Once you get into conference, every team is strong and will give you their best effort. We are happy after this long week of travel to come away with a pair of wins. We played tenacious defense, allowing just five goals. We were able to win a lot of draw controls, which helped. I am happy for the victory. Good week for Navy women's lacrosse."
 
Defensively, the Midshipmen limited the Raiders' offensive attack to just five goals on 25 shots, including 18 shots on goal. The five goals marked the second time this week that the Mids held an opponent to single digit goals and the third consecutive game without allowing double-digit scores. At goal, Jo Torres (Prince Frederick, Md.) turned away 13 shots en route to her ninth victory of the season. It is the fifth time this season and seventh time in the sophomore's career that she has registered double-digit saves. The Mids' defense caused seven of the Raiders' 11 turnovers on the day. Grace Loughery (Perkasie, Pa.) led the way with two caused turnovers. Navy won the ground ball game, 25-19, with Loughery pacing the team with four. Torres and Leelee Denton (Nashville, Tenn.) added three apiece.
 
Offensively, six Midshipmen combined to score Navy's 12 goals with four student-athletes notching multiple goals. Gil Eby (Towson, Md.) led the way with career-high four goals, including the game-winning goal, for her second hat trick of the season. She was joined by Kasey Dietzel (Warrington, Pa.), Lola Leone (Bay Shore, N.Y.), and Reagan Roelofs (Apple Valley, Minn.) added two scores apiece, while Christine Fiore (Darien, Conn.) and Charlotte Ryan (Tully, N.Y.) chipped in a score each.
 
Navy won the draw control battle, 13-8, to give the Mids extra offensive opportunities. Roelofs finished the game with 10 draws, marking the second time this season and the 14th time in her career the senior tallied double-figure draws. Dietzel rounded out the Navy draws with three.
 
For Colgate, Eliza Soutter and Lauren Thompson led the way with two goals apiece, while goalie Kieran Gerow took the loss allowing 12 goals despite 15 saves.
 
Navy was the first team to score as Eby found the back of the net to put the Mids in front 1-0. Colgate knotted the game at 1-1, but Dietzel answered to give Navy the lead. Following a Raider goal, the Midshipmen closed out the quarter with a 4-1 run. Leone, Eby, and Ryan all found the back of the net before Colgate scored its third goal. Eby closed out the quarter with her third goal to put Navy in front 6-3.
 
Roelofs opened the scoring in the second quarter with a free-position goal. The home team used a free-position opportunity to cut the margin to 7-4, but Leone converted an eight-meter to send the game into halftime with the Mids in front, 8-4.
 
In the third quarter, Navy tallied just a pair of goals, but used solid defense to keep Colgate out of the net. Eby scored her fourth goal of the game with five minutes remaining in the period and Fiore converted a free-position with just seven ticks on the clock to take a 10-4 advantage into the final quarter.
 
Colgate scored its fifth and final goal on a free position, but Navy closed out the game with scores by Dietzel and Roelofs to provide the final margin, 12-5.
 
Navy returns to action on Saturday, April 9 as the Midshipmen host Boston University in a Patriot League game. The game is part of a doubleheader with the Navy men's lacrosse team. Opening draw is slated for 4:00 p.m. and prior to the game the Mids will honor their seniors as part of Senior Day. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available throughout.