BOSTON, Mass. – The No. 20 Navy women's lacrosse team (10-3, 4-1 Patriot League) trailed early and were unable to complete its comeback attempt as the Midshipmen were edged, 12-11, against Boston University (7-6, 2-4 Patriot League) at Nickerson Field in Boston. The Mids scored the first goal of the game, but a 4-0 run by the Terriers put BU in front. Navy closed the gap to one on four different occasions, but were unable to find the equalizer.
 
The game was another close battle in the all-time series. Seven of the 10 games played between the two teams have been decided by three goals or less with five matchups decided by one point. The last three contests played in Boston have been decided by one goal.
 
"This was a tough loss for Navy women's lacrosse," head coach Cindy Timchal said. "BU came out red hot, but we fought all the way through. In the end, we just didn't finish on enough shots and it came down to finishing. BU played us tough, which is how it goes when you are on the road. I do believe that we responded. We ran out of time, but we fought hard to the very end. I am proud of the team and the way that they battled. We just have to move forward. We have two games next week at American and at home for Senior Day against Holy Cross so we don't have time to dwell on this game."
 
Offensively, Navy scored 11 goals on 29 shots, while BU finished with 12 score on 18 attempts. The two teams combined for six assists with the Midshipmen registering just one helper in the game. Five players scored in the game for the Mids with all five notching multi-score performances. Ava Yovino (Parkland, Fla.) finished with a hat trick, netting three goals. The freshman, who ranks third in the NCAA in assists, was held without an assist for the first time in her Navy career. Offensive team captain Charlotte Ryan (Tully, N.Y.) finished with three points, netting a pair of goals, while adding the only assist of the game for Navy. Maggie DeFabio (Summit, N.J.), Lola Leone (Bay Shore, N.Y.), and Emily Messinese (Manchester, Md.) each dented the net twice.
 
The Midshipmen defense caused 11 of the Terriers' 17 turnovers on the day. Seven different Midshipmen – Erin Carson (New Albany, Ohio), Athena Corroon (Greenwich, Conn.), Gabby Lavin (Gambrills, Md.), Megan Marengo (Wayne, Pa.), DeFabio, Leone, and Yovino – were credited with a caused turnover with Lavin pacing the squad with two CT. Emma Richardell (Bethesda, Md.) finished the day with four saves, while surrendering 12 goals in a complete game effort. Lavin, Messinese, Richardell, and Grace Peterson (Mound, Minn.) finished with two ground balls apiece, leading a Navy team that finished with 12 different players who picked up ground balls.
 
BU edged Navy, 14-13, in draw controls. Ryan led the team with five draws, while DeFabio and Yovino added two apiece.
 
For Boston, Matty Spaeth led the Terriers with four goals, while Abby Cotraro and Hannah Tilier added four points with two goals and two assists each. Goalkeeper Reilly Agres turned away 10 of Navy's shots in a winning effort.
 
Navy was the first team to score, scratching the scoreboard with a Ryan goal 45 seconds into the game. Boston responded with four straight goals to take a 4-1 lead. Messinese scored a pair of goals in the first quarter as the two teams traded goals over the final seven minutes of the quarter. Trailing 6-3, Yovino matched BU with two goals in the second quarter as the Mids entered halftime down, 8-5.
 
The Midshipmen cut the margin to one in the third quarter, outscoring the Terriers, 3-1, in the period. Ryan opened the scoring with her second goal of the game, but a BU score pushed its lead back to three, 9-6. Leone scored the next two goals, converting a free-position opportunity and burying a second goal into the back of the cage, sending the game into the final quarter with the Mids down, 9-8.
 
Boston opened the final quarter with a goal, but DeFabio took a pass from Ryan and slipped it past Agres for the goal. The home team regained a two-goal advantage, 11-9, but DeFabio trimmed the margin with a free-position goal. The Terriers scored with 50 ticks on the clock to push their advantage to 12-10. The Midshipmen refused to quit with Yovino scoring with four seconds on the clock. BU won the ensuing draw control to seal the win for the Terriers.
 
Navy resumes play next week with a pair of Patriot League games. The Midshipmen travel to Washington, D.C. for a midweek game against American on Wednesday (4:00 p.m.) before returning home to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for Senior Day on Saturday against Holy Cross (12 noon). Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.