VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Navy women's lacrosse team (2-2) were edged 11-10 in overtime by Villanova (3-0) on Saturday evening at Villanova Stadium. Trailing 10-9 late in the fourth quarter, freshman Ava Yovino (Parkland, Fla.) knotted the score at 10 to send the game into overtime, however, the Wildcats were able to get the golden goal and come away with the win.
 
"This was a tough one for Navy women's lacrosse," head coach Cindy Timchal said. "We had chances and opportunities through the game. I thought our team played really tough. In the end in overtime, we were able to get some good looks, but things didn't go the way we wanted. Credit to Villanova. They are undefeated and have played everyone tough. We will go home and regroup. We have a game on Friday, our first home game. I expect us to be super excited to finally get an opportunity to play at home in front of our fans."
 
Offensively, the Midshipmen tallied 10 goals on 28 shots, including 21 shots on goal. Navy was led by offensive team captain Charlotte Ryan (Tully, N.Y.), who tied a career high with four goals in the game, marking her first hat trick of the season and the sixth of her career. Lola Leone (Bay Shore, N.Y.) added a pair of scores, while Lindsay Beardmore (Annapolis, Md.), Tori DiCarlo (Rosemont, Pa.), Emily Messinese (Manchester, Md.), and Yovino each added scores.
 
Yovino once again led the team in assists, finishing the game with four of the Mids' seven helpers. Messinese dished out a pair of assists with Emma Kennedy (Cooksville, Md.) chipping in one.
 
On the defensive side, the Midshipmen caused 11 of Nova's 20 turnovers. Athena Corroon (Greenwich, Conn.) led the way with three caused turnovers, while Erin Carson (New Albany, Ohio) and Grace Peterson (Mound, Minn.) finished with two CT apiece. Katie Golbranson (Newport Beach, Calif.), Gabby Lavin (Gambrills, Md.), Megan Marengo (Wayne, Pa.), and Yovino rounded out the caused turnovers with one apiece.
 
Emma Richardell (Bethesda, Md.) finished with five saves in 64:39 minutes between the pipes. The sophomore joined Corroon, Marengo, and Peterson with three ground balls, while Messinese also added a pair of GBs.
 
Villanova edge Navy in draw controls, winning 13 of 25 draws in the game. Yovino paced the Mids winning five of 12 draws. Messinese and Maura Murphy (Woodbine, Md.) picked up three draws each, while Alyssa Daley (Walkersville, Md.) also won a draw.
 
The Wildcats were led by Sydney Pappas, who finished with six points on a game-high five goals and an assist. Sam Carey had two goals for Nova, including the game winner. Olivia Conquest earned the victory at goal, finishing with 11 saves.
 
Navy was the first team to score, netting two goals to start the game. Leone broke the scoreless deadlock with 11:46 remaining in the first quarter, taking a pass from Kennedy and slipping it past the Villanova keeper. Ryan pushed the lead to 2-0, converting her first free-position opportunity. With two minutes to play in the opening quarter, the home team got on the board.
 
Villanova carried the momentum into the second quarter adding three more goals to take a 4-2 advantage. With 3:53 remaining in the half, Ryan stopped the Nova run with her second free-position goal of the half. The Midshipmen knotted the game at 4-4 as DiCarlo scooped up a pass from Messinese and pushed it past the goalie. Navy regained the lead with back-to-back scores by Ryan to close out the half, sending the game into intermission with the Mids in front 6-4.
 
In the third quarter, Nova was able tie the game as the home team outscored Navy 3-1 in the third quarter. Leone answered a Wildcat goal with her second score of the contest, but Villanova closed out the period with a pair of goals.
 
Once again, the Wildcats carried momentum into the next quarter adding two goals in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter to regain the lead. Messinese halted the run with a goal, but Villanova pushed its advantage back to two with just over nine minutes remaining in regulation. Trailing by two late, Beardmore took a pass from Yovino and slammed it past the goalie to pull Navy to within one. Yovino tied the game at 10-10 with 100 ticks on the clock, dodging and fighting her way to the cage for the goal. Neither team was able to dent the net in the final 1:40 of regulation, forcing overtime.
 
Navy won the opening draw of overtime, but a turnover gave the ball to Villanova. The defense stood strong, limiting the Wildcats to one shot, which was high, before a shot clock violation gave the ball back to the Mids. An unsuccessful clear gave the ball to Nova and a foul set the home team up with a free-position opportunity. The shot was wide, closing out the first portion of the overtime period.
 
After the teams flipped side of the field, Murphy won the draw control for Navy. A foul put Messinese on the eight-meter arc for a free-position attempt, but the sophomore's shot was just wide of the cage and Villanova picked up the ground ball. The Wildcats ran the length of the field and were able to slip the game-winning goal past the Mids' defense.
 
Navy returns to action on Friday, March 3 as the Midshipmen welcome Oregon to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The home opener for the Mids is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.