ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy women's soccer team begins the second half of its Patriot League slate on Wednesday with a road matinee matchup at American University. The contest is the first game over a busy four-day stretch for the Mids (6-5-3, 1-4 PL) as they initially play the Eagles (2-6-4, 2-2-1 PL) on Wednesday before coming home for the 2023 Star Game versus Army on Saturday night. Kickoff between the two nearby rivals is set for 3 p.m. at Reeves Field on the campus of American.
The Navy-American game will have live stats provided online, as well as be broadcast on the ESPN+ platform. ESPN+ is a subscription-based streaming service that requires patrons to sign-up for monthly or yearly plans prior to tuning into the contest.
Navy vs. American
Wednesday will be the 32nd meeting between the two nearby schools in a series that began on Sept. 7, 1994 ... Navy leads the series 20-7-4 and has outscored American, 60-29 all-time ... Navy is 9-3-2 on the road at American, including a current six-game winning streak at Reeves Field ... The Mids and Eagles have gone through large momentum swings throughout this series as Navy won the first four meetings from 1994-1998 before stringing together its current run of 14 games without a loss (13-0-1) from 2011-2022, including two postseason victories during that span ... During this undefeated run for Navy, the Mids have outscored the Eagles, 31-6.
Last 5 Matchups
In the last five meetings dating back to 2018, Navy is 4-0-1 and has outscored American, 8-3.
Oct. 12, 2022 (H): Navy 1 - American 0
Oct. 13, 2021 (A): Navy 2 - American 0
April 9, 2021 (H): Navy 1 - American 1
Oct. 23, 2019 (A): Navy 1 - American 0
Sept. 26, 2018 (H): Navy 3 - American 2 (OT)
Most Recent Matchup: October 12, 2022 in Annapolis
Playing the first of two important Patriot League games in a span of four days, the Navy women's soccer team came out on Wednesday night with a spirited 90-minute battle against American. Close and competitive throughout, a slick re-direct goal by
Jenna Daunt off of a
Mimi Abusham assist in the 64th minute stood up as the game-winner in the Mids' 1-0 victory over the Eagles in the contest at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
Mattie Gallagher was a standout in goal for Navy in the matchup as the junior goalkeeper turned aside eight American shots on goal, including three in the final five minutes of the contest.
Coming out in the second half knotted at 0-0, Navy quickly rattled off three shots in a matter of four minutes.
Alexa Riddle had the first look as she received a lead pass, dribbled around an American defender and found herself in a one-on-one with the Eagles' goalkeeper, Julia Kato. Unfortunately, for the Mids, Kato came off her line and deflected Riddle's shot away. Off the ensuing corner kick, the Mids had a pair of shots blocked in quick succession.
American countered this early Navy push with four shots over a nine-plus minute run from 52:20 to 61:32. Two of those Eagle attempts were on frame and were subsequently denied by Gallagher. The junior's save of Brooke Steel's shot in the 62nd minute was extra note-worthy as the ricochet bounced out to Cailin Panacek and glanced wide of the net.
A little over two minutes later, Navy broke through onto the scoreboard as Abusham tracked down a ball at the end line and whipped a cross into the six-yard box to the oncoming Daunt, who re-directed the ball off the top of her right foot sharply inside the near post at 63:33.
The next 15 minutes proceeded without a shot as physical play in the middle portion of the field controlled most of the action.
Down 1-0, American's comeback push hit its high gear in the final five minutes of regulation the Eagles put three shots on goal. Gallagher was locked in and producing at a high-level right to the end and made save on all three shots. Her save of Izzy Kadzban's shot in the 86th minute saw her soar off her line and athletically leap high to the right.
For the game, American outshot Navy, 15-12 with an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Eagles also held a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
Comparing the Teams
| 2023 Stats |
Navy |
American |
| Record / PL |
6-5-3, 1-4-0 PL |
2-6-4, 2-2-1 PL |
| Goals/Gm |
2.14 |
0.67 |
| Assists/Gm |
2.00 |
0.67 |
| Shots/Gm |
13.4 |
11.3 |
| Goals Against Average |
1.21 |
1.50 |
| GK Saves/Gm |
3.86 |
3.42 |
Common Opponents:
Bucknell
Colgate |
L, 0-2
L, 0-2 |
L, 0-1
L, 0-2 |
Statistical Leaders
| (2023 Stats) |
Navy |
American |
| Goals |
Healey/Riddle, 4 |
Giroux, 3 |
| Assists |
Graziano, 6 |
Klingensmith/Merrigan, 2 |
| Points |
Graziano/Healey/Riddle, 10 |
Giroux, 6 |
| Shots |
Riddle, 28 |
Klingensmith, 23 |
| GK Saves |
Gallagher, 52 |
Kato, 41 |
Last Time Out: October 6 at Bucknell
In a matchup of teams looking to move up the Patriot League conference standings, the host Bucknell Bison held home field advantage and defeated the Navy women's soccer team by a score of 2-0 on Friday night. Fighting through rainy and soggy conditions at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium, the Bison registered two first half goals and withstood a plethora of Midshipmen scoring chances in the second half.
Down early 1-0 at 14:48 after a Hannah Stuck goal for Bucknell, the action toggled between the attacking third of both sides as Rylee Rives unleashed a shot in the 24th minute that rang off the post before Bucknell came down less than three minutes later and had Paige Temple test Mattie Gallagher from distance with a low line drive shot that forced Gallagher to dive into action. Soon after, Alexa Riddle was aggressive on the other end of the pitch and ripped a deep shot on goal in the 30th minute that was saved by Hall for her second save of the game.
A Kelley Francis goal at 41:14 sent the hosts into the locker room up 2-0.
Trailing by a pair of goals, Jordan Townsend nearly cut Navy's deficit in half in the 54th minute when she came in control of the bouncing ball off of Mori Sokoloff's corner kick and snapped off a one-timer on goal right into Hall's chest. The Mids continued to battle as Gallagher turned aside a Teresa Deda shot in the 59th minute before the trio of Riddle, Marlee Heaven and Amanda Graziano set up Graziano with a high percentage look in the 64th.
Still trailing by two, Navy continued showing a good nose for the goal as in the 77th minute, Riddle drew two defenders and placed a square pass into the six-yard box to Katie Herrmann, but the senior's attempt was pushed just wide of the goal mouth.
The Mids' final three shots over the last 11 minutes of regulation were unable to find the back of the net and the game went final at 2-0 in favor of the Bison.
For the game, Bucknell out-shot Navy, 20-16, although both teams recorded six shots on goal. The Mids had a slight 5-3 edge in corner kicks.
