ANNAPOLIS, Md. – For the first time in program history, the No. 24 Navy women's lacrosse team (13-3, 7-1 Patriot League) fell to rival Army (11-5, 6-2 PL) in the annual Star Game, which is part of the overall Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA. The Mids received a career-high four goals from Gil Eby (Towson, Md.), but fell 14-9 to their rivals at Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The loss snapped Navy's unbeaten streak against Army, and gave the Black Knights their first Star in the series. The Midshipmen entered the game 6-0 all-time against the Black Knights and 3-0 in Star competitions.  
 
"Army was well prepared," head coach Cindy Timchal said after the game. "Their goalie played well. We had our shots. Maybe we were tight and tentative for this big of a game. Our Navy women's lacrosse team is very sad, but we are resilient and know that one game doesn't define who we are as a team or this season. As big as this game is, every game is big and we have to be ready to play Loyola next week. Tough day for Navy women's lacrosse, but I am proud of the team for fighting all the way to the final whistle."
 
The Mids outshot the Black Knights, 42-25, but just 26 of Navy's shots, compared to 24 by Army, were on goal. Army had a 17-10 advantage over Navy in saves, helping to keep the Mids' offense off of the scoreboard. Navy struggled from eight-meters, finishing the game 1-for-8 on free-position opportunities, while Army went 4-for-5 from the eight-meter arch.

Navy was led by Eby who finished the game four goals, tying her career-best, set earlier this year against Colgate. Eby was joined by Kasey Dietzel (Warrington, Pa.) who finished with a pair of scores. Alexis Bell (Johns Creek, Ga.), Lola Leone (Bay Shore, N.Y.), and Reagan Roelofs (Apple Valley, Minn.) rounded out the scoring for Navy. Lindsay Beardmore (Annapolis, Md.) provided both of the Mids' two assists.
 
Defensively, the Mids caused 11 of the Black Knights' 16 turnovers. Beardmore, Bell, and Athena Corroon (Greenwich, Conn.) paced the team with two caused turnovers apiece. Navy picked up 22 ground balls as a team. Christine Fiore (Darien, Conn.) led the way with three ground balls, while Dietzel, Roelofs, Leelee Denton (Nashville, Tenn.), Bobbie Haney (Woodbine, Md.), Grace Loughery (Perkasie, Pa.), and Jo Torres (Prince Frederick, Md.) added two GB each. Torres finished the game with 10 saves in a losing effort. She surrendered 14 goals in 60-minutes of action with two ground balls.
 
Navy won the draw control battle, 16-11. The Mids trailed 7-2 in draw controls before switching to Charlotte Ryan (Tully, N.Y.) in the circle. With Ryan taking the draws, Navy won 14-4. Roelofs led the way with seven draws, while Ryan won four. Dietzel and Caroline Stefans (Coral Springs, Fla.) chipped in a pair of draws each.
 
Army was led by Julia Gorajek and Jolie Riedell. The duo scored four goals apiece, while Caroline Raymond led the way with two assists. Lacey Bartholomay earned the win in the cage allowing nine goals with 17 saves.
 
The game was back and forth early. Roelofs opened the scoring to put Navy in front 1-0, but Army responded to tie the game. Eby scored her first goal of the game to give the Mids the lead back, but the Black Knights responded.
 
Tied 2-2 heading into the second quarter, Army took its first lead of the game, but a Leone goal knotted the score at three apiece. The Black Knights used a 3-0 run to take a 6-3 advantage, but the Midshipmen countered with two goals to close out the half. Eby and Dietzel scored on back-to-back possessions to pull Navy to within one, 6-5, heading into halftime.
 
Eby completed the hat trick, scoring a goal three minutes into the second half to lock the game at 6-6. Army scored three of the next four goals to take a 9-7 advantage into the final quarter of play. Navy's lone goal during the run came from Dietzel.
 
In the fourth quarter, the visitors extended their lead to 10-7, but Eby trimmed the margin back to two with her fourth goal of the contest. Army scored three straight goals to take a 13-8 advantage that Navy would not be able to overcome. Bell scored her first collegiate goal with a minute to play, but a Black Knight goal with 37 seconds to play provided the final margin of 14-9.
 
Navy will be back in action on Thursday, April 28 against No. 7 Loyola (15-1, 8-0 PL) at the Ridley Athletic Complex in Baltimore, Md. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and opening draw is slated for 7:00 p.m.