LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Navy women's lacrosse team (7-2, 1-0) opened Patriot League play with a total team effort, defeating Bucknell (4-3, 0-1) at Graham Field at Holmes Stadium, 21-13, on Saturday afternoon in Lewisburg, Pa. Led by five goals by Leelee Denton (Nashville, Tenn.) and Emily Messinese (Manchester, Md.), the Midshipmen saw 11 different players score in the game.
 
"It was a wonderful opportunity for this team to compete, coming off a big top 20 victory over Jacksonville two days ago," head coach Cindy Timchal said after the game. "Bucknell played us very tough. I thought our players were very resilient. I am very proud that the players came together and persevered, even though things weren't always perfect. We were able to score 21 goals, and it felt like our team is really gelling. We got an opportunity to get a lot of players out on the field. Total team effort today. As coaches, Brooke, Brindi, and myself are thrilled to start the Patriot League with a team victory."
 
Offensively, the Mids distributed the ball to tally a season-high goals on the day. Four of the 11 players who scored in the game netted their first goal of the season. In addition, the Midshipmen converted six free-position opportunities, while also registering eight assists.
 
The five-goal performance by Denton gave her 11 for the week, while five scores for Messinese tied a career high. Tori DiCarlo (Rosemont, Pa.) and Ava Yovino (Parkland, Fla.) finished with two goals apiece, while Maggie DeFabio (Summit, N.J.), Kate Hartnett (Wayne, Pa.), Lola Leone (Bay Shore, N.Y.), Josie Mazzeo (Virginia Beach, Va.), Kat McAteer (Bohemia, N.Y.), Annie Newton (McLean, Va.), and Charlotte Ryan (Tully, N.Y.) each added scores. For Hartnett, Mazzeo, McAteer, and Newtown, the goals were their first of the season.
 
DiCarlo paced the squad with three assists to give the sophomore a career-high five points. Eloise Gebert (Pottstown, Pa.) chipped in a pair of helpers, while Messinese, Yovino, and Isabelle Thornburg (Alexandria, Va.) contributed assists on the day.
 
Defensively, Navy caused nine of Bucknell's 15 turnovers. Erin Carson (New Albany, Ohio), Athena Corroon (Greenwich, Conn.), and Yovino paced the squad with two caused turnovers apiece, while Katie Golbranson (Newport Beach, Calif.), Grace Peterson (Mound, Minn.), and DiCarlo were each credited with a CT. Golbranson and Yovino led the team with three ground balls each, while Corroon picked up a pair of GBs.
 
Emma Richardell (Bethesda, Md.) picked up the win at goal. The sophomore finished with five saves and a ground ball in nearly 57 minutes of action. She gave way to Anne Culicerto (Charlotte, N.C.) who worked the final 3:22 with a save and a ground ball to her credit.
 
In the circle, the Midshipmen won the draw control battle, topping the Bison, 27-11, setting the Navy single-game record for draws. The 27 draws topped the previous record of 26, originally set at No. 6 Florida in 2018 and matched against Army in the Patriot League Tournament in 2019. Alyssa Daley (Walkersville, Md.) led the charge with a career-high 14 draws, which tied for the fourth most draw controls for an individual in a game. Yovino won four draws and Messinese earned three, while DeFabio and Golbranson each won a pair of draws.
 
Bucknell was led by Allie Boyce and Alex Nesbitt, who each netted three goals in the game. Emily Baird and Taylor McClain paced the team with two assists each. The Bison used a pair of goalies – Symone Ryans and Julia Dembowittz – that combined to allow 21 goals, while registering eight total saves.
 
Navy was the first two scratch the scoreboard as Denton and Messinese netted their first goals to put the Midshipmen in front 2-0 in the first quarter. Back-to-back scores by the Bison knotted the score through one period of play.
 
The Mids regained the lead as Messinese and Yovino found the back of the net on back-to-back possessions. However, he home team responded with consecutive scores to tie the game at 4-4. From there, Navy closed out the first half with a 6-1 run to take control of the game. Denton scored three of the six goals in the run, while Leone, Ryan, and Yovino each contributed scores.
 
Messinese opened the second half with a goal, but Bucknell countered. Messinese once again found the back of the net, but the Bison responded with two goals. Navy closed out the third quarter with back-to-back scores by DeFabio and Denton to move into the final period of play up, 14-8.
 
In the fourth quarter, Bucknell opened up the scoring with two goals to pull to within four, 14-10, but Navy scored seven of the final 10 goals to secure the victory. DiCarlo and Messinese scored consecutive goals before McAteer closed out the 3-0 run with her first collegiate goal. Following a Bison goal, DiCarlo found the back of the net and Hartnett extended the advantage to 19-11 with her first goal of the season. Bucknell used a free-position goal to inch closer, but Mazzeo rattled the cage for her first collegiate goal to push the advantage back to eight, 20-12. After a goal by the home team, Newton provided the final margin, 21-13, with her first collegiate goal.
 
Navy will be back in action on Saturday, March 25, as the Midshipmen travel to Bethlehem, Pa. for a Patriot League matchup against Lehigh. Opening draw between the Midshipmen and Mountain Hawks is slated for 12:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.