ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The No. 24 Navy women's lacrosse team (9-2, 3-0 Patriot League) used a team effort to post a 17-6 victory over Lafayette (1-11, 0-4 Patriot League) on Wednesday evening at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Mids used an 11-0 run in the first half to take control of the game and cruise to the double-digit win. Eight different Midshipmen scored, while the defense limited the Leopards' offense to six goals.
 
"It was a total team effort," head coach Cindy Timchal said after the game. "We were a little sloppy in the beginning, which is understandable in a midweek game. The focus for Navy women's lacrosse is on ourselves and trying to raise our levels of play. We feel our team is locked in. We have amazing captains, who were named co-players of the game. It was a tribute to the leadership they provide. It was great to be home for a conference game and we know we have a tough match up on Saturday against Colgate."
 
Offensively, the Midshipmen used goals from eight players, including multiple scores from five different Mids. Leelee Denton (Nashville, Tenn.), Maggie DeFabio (Summit, N.J.), and Ava Yovino (Parkland, Fla.) recorded hat tricks, while Lindsay Beardmore (Annapolis, Md.) and Emily Messinese (Manchester, Md.) contributed multiple scores.  
 
Denton paced the team with four goals, including converting a pair of free-position opportunities. In the last four games, Denton has scored 19 goals on 21 total shots. The junior entered the game ranked No. 1 in the NCAA in shot percentage, and she raised that average to 77.8 percent following her 4-for-4 performance against the Leopards.
 
DeFabio and Yovino each tallied three goals apiece. For DeFabio, it was the freshman's fourth hat trick of the season, while it was the fifth time this season that Yovino registered three or more scores in a game. Beardmore and Messinese added two goals apiece, while Tori DiCarlo (Rosemont, Pa.), Lola Leone (Bay Shore, N.Y.), and Charlotte Ryan (Tully, N.Y.) each found the back of the net.
 
Navy finished with six assists in the game with six different players – Katie Golbranson (Newport Beach, Calif.), Emma Kennedy (Cooksville, Md.), Isabelle Thornburg (Alexandria, Va.), Beardmore, DeFabio, Yovino – aiding the goals.
 
Defensively, Emma Richardell (Bethesda, Md.) eared her ninth victory of the season. The sophomore goalkeeper allowed three goals, while registering eight saves between the pipes in nearly 54 minutes of play. She gave way to Anne Culicerto (Charlotte, N.C.) who worked the final 6:07, picking up a ground ball.
 
The Midshipmen caused 15 of the Leopards' 19 turnovers with 10 different Mids finishing with caused turnovers. Erin Carson (New Albany, Ohio, Athena Corroon (Greenwich, Conn.), Gabby Lavin (Gambrills, Md.), Golbranson, Messinese led the team with two CTs apiece, while Denton, Leone, Ryan, Thornburg, and Yovino caused one turnover each.
 
Navy edged Lafayette, 13-12, in draw controls. Alyssa Daley (Walkersville, Md.) led the way with five draws, while Messinese won four draw controls. Eloise Gebert (Pottstown, Pa.), Leone, and Yovino also picked up draws in the game.
 
For the Leopards, Clare Culligan led the way with four points on a team-best three goals and the team's only assist. Lafayette used a pair of goalies with Lexie Coldiron registering five saves in 45 minutes of action, while Kennedy Carr notched three saves during her time in the third quarter.
 
Navy was the first team to score as Messinese put the Midshipmen on the scoreboard 30 seconds into the game. Lafayette knotted the game at 1-1, but an 11-0 run by the Mids gave Navy a double-digit lead to take control of the game. Beardmore, DeFabio (2x), Denton (3x), Leone, Ryan, and Yovino (3x) each scored goals in the run. The Leopards stopped the run with a goal, but a goal by DiCarlo gave the Mids a 13-2 advantage at the half.
 
With a running clock in the second half the two teams matched each other, scoring four goals apiece with Beardmore, DeFabio, Denton, and Messinese finding the back of the net for the Midshipmen in the final half of the game.
 
Navy continues Patriot League play at home against Colgate on Saturday, April 1 at 12:00 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.