BALTIMORE, Md. – The No. 25 Navy women's lacrosse team (13-6) was edged 12-11 in double overtime to No. 15 Army (15-2) in the semifinals of the Patriot League Tournament on Thursday evening at the Ridley Athletic Complex in Baltimore, Md. The Midshipmen held the Black Knights scoreless for nearly 16 minutes, but were unable to net the game-winner.
 
"It is a shame that either team had to lose tonight," head coach Cindy Timchal said after the game. "For Navy, this was a tough game to lose in double overtime. Both teams stood tall defensively. Both teams had opportunities. It was a wonderful game to be a part of. For Navy women's lacrosse battling once again in the semifinals for a chance to play in the finals of the Patriot League in a league that has three top 25 teams; I couldn't be prouder. We came up on the short end and it is going to hurt for a while, but Navy can stand tall and walk off the field proud."
 
The semifinal loss was the first for Navy since 2014 when the Midshipmen fell 13-12 to Boston University in Baltimore. The game was the first overtime contest between Army and Navy and it was the second multi-overtime game in Patriot League Tournament history.
 
Emma Richardell (Bethesda, Md.) finished the game with a career-high 14 saves. She helped hold the potent Black Knight offense scoreless for nearly 16 minutes in the second half. Army scored with 4:53 in the fourth quarter and did not score again until 1:08 remaining of the second overtime (15:43). In addition to her career-high saves, Richardell added a pair of ground balls and a caused turnover.
 
"I am so proud of the defensive unit," senior defensive captain Athena Corroon (Greenwich, Conn.) said. "We played as a unit and as a team. [Richardell] played phenomenal and she kept us in that game. She gave us her all. It was really fun to play with her."
 
Defensively, Navy caused 11 of Army's 18 turnovers in the game. Katie Golbranson (Newport Beach, Calif.) led the way with three CT, while Erin Carson (New Albany, Ohio), Maggie DeFabio (Summit, N.J.), and Ava Yovino (Parkland, Fla.) added two caused turnovers apiece. Corroon paced the team with five ground balls, while Tori DiCarlo (Rosemont, Pa.), Carson, and Yovino added three apiece.
 
On the offensive side of the ball, the Midshipmen were led by Leelee Denton (Nashville, Tenn.), Emily Messinese (Manchester, Md.), DeFabio, and DiCarlo who each netted two goals apiece. Lola Leone (Bay Shore, N.Y.), Charlotte Ryan (Tully, N.Y.) and Yovino added one score each. The Mids tallied six assists in the game with DeFabio, DiCarlo, Leone, Messinese, Yovino, and Isabelle Thornburg (Alexandria, Va.) registered helpers.
 
Army was able to gain extra possessions, winning 21 of 30 draw controls on the night. Alyssa Daley (Walkersville, Md.) won six of nine draws for Navy, while Messinese and Yovino combined for three.
 
For Army, Brigid Duffy and Allison Reilly both recorded hat tricks, scoring three goals apiece. Kathleen Sullivan's only goal was the game winner in overtime. Lindsey Serafine earned the win at goal turning away 10 Navy shots, while allowing 11 goals. Serafine picked up a team-best six ground balls, while Julia Fanzoni won a game-high 10 draw controls.
 
Navy was the first team to score as DiCarlo put the Midshipmen on the scoreboard with her first goal. Messinese followed with a free-position goal to put the designated visitors in front 2-0. Army responded with back-to-back scores, but Navy regained the lead on a Leone goal. DeFabio followed with a score to push the Mids' advantage to 4-2, but the Black Knights trimmed the margin to one to end the first quarter.
 
Army continued its run in the second quarter, ultimately finishing with a 4-0 run to take a 7-4 lead. Navy countered with a 3-0 run of its own to knot the score at 7-7 heading into halftime. Denton opened the run with an unassisted goal, while Messinese buried a pass from DeFabio in the back of the net. Ryan knotted the score at seven with 20 ticks on the clock.
 
DeFabio opened the second-half scoring with a goal, but Army countered to knot the score once again. The Black Knights regained the lead, but Yovino skipped a ball past the Army keeper to tie the game at 9-9. Following an Army goal, Navy used a Denton goal to tie the game at 10 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The fourth quarter saw each team score one time. Army netted a goal with 4:53 remaining in the quarter to take an 11-10 lead, but DiCarlo scored the equalizer with 3:39 on the clock. With two minutes remaining regulation, Army turned the ball over and Yovino picked up the loose ball. Navy called a timeout with 1:33 to play. The Mids held the ball until Yovino took a shot with 42 ticks on the clock, but the Black Knights were able to make the save. On the ensuing clear attempt, Army turned the ball over. Ryan picked up the ground ball and tossed it to defender Gabby Lavin (Gambrills, Md.) whose first collegiate shot just missed the goal, sending the game to overtime.
 
Army won the opening draw of overtime, but Corroon caused a turnover. Messinese was fouled an awarded a free-position shot, but Serafine recorded a save to keep the game locked at 11. Richardell was able to turn away a pair of shots, including a free-position opportunity in the first overtime period to force an extra overtime.
 
In the second overtime, the Black Knights once again won the opening draw and Richardell once again turned away an Army shot attempt. Following a Mids' turnover, the Black Knights had back-to-back opportunities to put the game away, but the first attempt hit the crossbar and Richardell stood strong to keep the game tied at 11-11. In the second half of the second overtime, Army controlled the draw, but Richardell registered another stop, however, the Black Knights were able to pick up the ground ball and Sullivan was able to break the tie with 1:08 remaining to give Army the win.