ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In a game that featured seven ties and five lead changes, the Navy women's lacrosse team (6-2) edged No. 19 Jacksonville (4-4), 13-12, on Thursday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. The Midshipmen used career games by Leelee Denton (Nashville, Tenn.) and Emma Richardell (Bethesda, Md.) to earn their second victory over a ranked opponent this season.
 
Denton led the team offensively, notching a career-high six goals that included the game-winning goal, while Richardell finished with a career-best 11 saves with eight stops in the second half.
 
"Navy women's lacrosse came out here today knowing there was a lot on the line," head coach Cindy Timchal said after the game. "Jacksonville, a top 20 program, really took us the distance. I am proud of the team to pull together, have some fun, make plays, and defensively come up with some big stops.
 
"It is not always the same person. In this case, Leelee stepped up and had a few goals. Emma stepped up big in the cage on defense. I am proud of the team. We were very resilient. It wasn't always pretty, but in the end, Navy women's lacrosse believes and they love to play together. I am so proud of them and happy for them."
 
As a team, Navy finished the game with 13 goals on 22 shots. The Midshipmen opened the game perfect, converting nine goals on the first nine shots of the first half. The Mids worked as a team finishing with nine assists on the 13 goals.
 
Denton finished the game with a team-best six goals on six shots. Ava Yovino (Parkland, Fla.) paced the squad with seven total points, concluding the game with a goal and a team-high six assists. Emily Messinese (Manchester, Md.) and Charlotte Ryan (Tully, N.Y.) added two goals each, while Lindsay Beardmore (Annapolis, Md.) and Maggie DeFabio (Summit, N.J.) notched one score apiece. In addition, Beardmore, DeFabio, and Messinese chipped in assists.
 
Defensively, Richardell finished with a season-best 11 saves in the game. The sophomore had three stops in the first half, but registered eight saves in the second half. Richardell and Grace Peterson (Mound, Minn.) led the team with three ground balls, while Messinese added a pair of GB. Katie Golbranson (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Yovino led the team with two caused turnovers each, while Beardmore, Messinese, and Peterson added caused turnovers.
 
In the draw circle, Ryan led the team with three draws, while Messinese, Yovino, and Alyssa Daley (Walkersville, Md.) won a pair of draws each.
 
Laruen Craft and Sarah Elms led the way for Jacksonville. The duo had three goals apiece, while Grace Hobson and Brianna Samuels notched two scores each. Shannon Cotter led the way with five ground balls, while Molly Brock won a game-high six draws. Paige Pagano took the loss at goal, working the final 36 and a half minutes of action with three saves and five goals allowed.
 
Jacksonville jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter, netting the third goal with 13 minutes remaining in the period, prompting a Navy timeout. Following the timeout, the Mids responded with three straight scores to knot the game at 3-3. DeFabio started the scoring with a goal, while Yovino pulled the home team to within one. Denton tied the score with her first goal with 8:47 remaining in the first quarter. Following a Dolphin goal, Ryan knotted the game at four. JU once again regained the lead, but Messinese tied the game at 5-5 to end the quarter.
 
In the second quarter, Navy took its first lead of the game. Denton gave the Mids lead and Beardmore pushed the advantage to two goals, 7-5. Following a Jacksonville score, Denton extended the Navy advantage back to two goals at 8-6. The Dolphins responded with their second 3-0 run of the game, retaking the lead, 9-8. For the second time in the game, Ryan scored a goal to tie the game, sending the contest into halftime locked at 9-9.
 
After combining for 18 goals in the first half, both team's defenses stepped up, holding the offenses to seven combined goals.
 
Denton broke the 9-9 tie with her fourth goal of the day to start the third quarter. JU regained the advantage with back-to-back scores, but Denton once again tied the game, 11-11, converting a free-position opportunity.
 
In the fourth quarter, Messinese and Denton found the back of the net to give the Midshipmen a 13-11 advantage. Jacksonville scored with 6:16 remaining in the game to cut the margin to one. Defense for both teams stood strong in the final minutes of the game. With a minute to go and a one-goal lead, Navy tried to run out the clock, but a turnover gave Jacksonville the ball at midfield with 54 ticks on the clock. The Dolphins worked the ball around the goal, but Yovino was able to knock the ball away and Golbranson picked up the ground ball with just 13 seconds remaining. The Mids were able to runout the clock and secure the one-goal victory.
 
Navy returns to action on Saturday as the Mids head to Lewisburg, Pa. to open Patriot League play against Bucknell. Opening draw is slated for 12:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.