ANNAPOLIS, Md. – On rainy afternoon in Annapolis, the No. 25 Navy Women's Lacrosse team (13-5) posted a 20-13 victory over Boston University (9-9) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. With the win, Navy will take on No. 2 seed Army in the semifinals at Ridley Athletic Complex in Baltimore, Md. on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.
 
"As a coaching staff, Brindi Griffin, Brooke Shriver, and I are so excited and happy for this team," head coach Cindy Timchal said. "We were locked in and ready to play after a quick turnaround with our last regular-season game on Friday. BU played us tough the first time around, but our focus for today's game was really and truly leaning on each other and playing Navy women's lacrosse for four straight quarters."
 
Navy used a balanced attack with eight different players combining for 20 scores on the day. Seven of the eight Mids who found the back of the net registered multiple scores. Emily Messinese (Manchester, Md.) led the team with a career-high five goals and tying a career-best with six points. Lola Leone (Bay Shore, N.Y.) and Charlotte Ryan (Tully, N.Y.) finished with hat tricks, scoring three goals apiece. Maggie DeFabio (Summit, N.J.), Leelee Denton (Nashville, Tenn.), Tori DiCarlo (Rosemont, Pa.), and Ava Yovino chipped in two goals each, while Lindsay Beardmore (Annapolis, Md.) rounded out the scoring with a goal. Led by three helpers by Yovino, the Midshipmen tallied eight assists on the afternoon. In addition to Yovino, Grace Peterson (Mound, Minn.), Isabelle Thornburg (Alexandria, Va.), Beardmore, DeFabio, and Messinese were credited with assists.
 
Defensively, the Midshipmen caused eight of the Terriers' 11 turnovers on the day. Senior defensive captain Athena Corroon (Greenwich, Conn.) paced the team with three caused turnovers, while Gabby Lavin (Gambrills, Md.), Emma Richardell (Bethesda, Md.), Leone, Messinese, and Yovino recorded CTs. Yovino led the way with four of Navy's 17 ground balls, while Corroon, DiCarlo, and Messinese added a pair of GB apiece. Richardell worked 58:35 between the pipes for the Midshipmen with three saves, a caused turnover, and a ground ball. She gave way to Anne Culicerto (Charlotte, N.C.) who recorded a clean sheet in her 1:25 of action.
 
Draw controls played a pivotal role in the rematch. BU edged Navy, 14-13, in draw controls in the initial meeting on April 8, but on Sunday, the Midshipmen won the draw control battle, 26-11, to control possession. Alyssa Daley (Walkersville, Md.) won 10 of the 26 draws for the Midshipmen with Messinese following with seven. Katie Golbranson (Newport Beach, Calif.) added a career-high five draws, while Yovino won two DC.
 
For Boston, Maddie MacMaster led the Terriers with seven goals, while Claire Gola added a hat trick. Tobey Tick paced the team with three assists. Reilly Agres (8 saves) and Arielle Hammer (5) split the goalkeeping duties with Agres taking the loss.
 
Navy jumped out to an 8-2 first-quarter lead and were able to hold on for the victory. Messinese and DeFabio gave the Mids an early 2-0 advantage. Following a BU score, the Mids used a 6-0 run to take control of the quarter. Denton opened the run with a free-position goal and Ryan followed with her first score of the day. DiCarlo buried a Yovino pass in the back of the net to push the advantage to 5-1. Denton continued the run with a goal off of Peterson's first collegiate assist. Leone and DeFabio finished the run with back-to-back scores to put the Midshipmen in front 8-1. With 13 ticks on the clock, Boston ended the run with a goal to send the game into the second period with Navy up, 8-2.
 
Messinese once again opened the quarter with a goal, pushing the advantage to seven, 9-2, but consecutive scores by BU trimmed the margin to five, 9-4. Yovino gave Navy 10 goals, but a Boston score kept the Terriers within reach at 10-5. Messinese completed her first-half hat trick, but back-to-back goals by Boston trimmed Navy's lead to 11-7 at halftime.
 
Messinese once more opened a quarter with a goal, starting the second half with her fourth score of the day. BU answered, but Navy used scores by Ryan and Beardmore to push the advantage to 14-8. Two straight goals by Boston cut the lead to 14-10, but Messinese sent the game into the final quarter with her fifth goal.
 
In the fourth quarter, Navy rattled off three straight scores in the first five minutes to put the game nearly out of reach. Yovino started the run with DiCarlo and Leone following with goals. Boston University closed the gap to 18-12, but would get no closer as Leone and Ryan answered with goals to push the advantage to eight, 20-12. The Terriers used a free-position goal to provide the final margin, 20-13.
 
Navy returns to action on Thursday, May 4, as the Midshipmen take on second-seeded Army in the semifinals of the Patriot League Championship Tournament at Ridley Athletic Complex in Baltimore, Md. Opening draw is slated for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.