ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy women's soccer team opened its 2023 season with a complete 90-minute effort that resulted in a 2-1 victory versus Charleston Southern. Breaking onto the scoreboard in the 11th minute courtesy of a Marlee Heaven (So., Rockville, Md.) header, the Mids (1-0) kept the pressure on the Buccaneers (0-1) throughout and eventually broke a 1-1 tie in the 66th when Alexa Riddle (Jr., Tomball, Texas) one-timed a Jenna Daunt (Sr., Haymarket, Va.) pass into the back of the net.

As a team, 21 Navy players saw the field on Thursday night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility and helped the Mids register 20 total shots, while holding the Bucs to just three looks.

"We improved in many aspects as the game went on; we got our touch back and we played a little quicker," remarked head coach Carin Gabarra. "We generated a lot of quality scoring chances; we had nine shots on goal and seven corners. In the attack, things were clicking, sometimes we didn't always make the correct final decision or play to properly to turn that into a goal. We're doing the right things; we're passing better and our shape is better. Our game fitness is getting there. We'll continue to work on our pace and getting to know each other on the field.

"I'm really proud of the depth we put out there; 21 players saw action tonight, including a lot of young players. They saw time in tough situations and big moments. Everyone that played today did really well. We gave up a goal late in the first half, but we stuck to it and fought back for a game-winning goal in the second half. I'm really happy with our overall performance."

The contest started fast as the host Mids were active in the attacking third almost immediately as Riddle peppered the Bucs' goalkeeper Jenna Moran with a shot on goal in the sixth minute. Navy's second shot on frame of the game was a Heaven header that sailed to the upper 90 away from Moran at 10:22. The scoring play developed 25 yards out as Daunt laid a pass down to the on-coming Chloe Dawson (Sr., Fairfax, Va.), who lofted a high looping cross to Heaven deep inside the six-yard box for the header.

Navy kept its foot on the offensive pedal as Riddle and Daunt tested Moran with consecutive shots only goal in the 17th minute.

The Mids' defense was strong out of the gates on Thursday night and didn't allow a Buccaneer shot until the 29th minute when Reese Beggs pushed a shot wide of the goal. Charleston Southern capitalized on its second overall shot of the contest at 40:29 when Daniela Contreras connected with Fiama Hidalgo on a free kick for the game-tying score.

Coming out of the locker room after halftime knotted at 1-1, Navy turned up the pressure in all facets of the game as their defense suffocated CSU to the tune of just one total shot in the final 45 minutes of regulation. With the Bucs at bay, the Mids' offense worked on finding time, space and the right strategy to attack. Over the opening 15 minutes of the period, Navy recorded five shots and two corner kicks.

Defense turned into offense in the 66th minute as the Mids grabbed possession in the midfield and quickly transitioned their way up the pitch with Mimi Abusham (So., Los Alamitos, Calif.) and Daunt working some swift give-and-go action before Daunt sprinted into space towards the goal before laying off a crisp lead pass to Riddle, who one-timed the ball past the Bucs' goalkeeper.

Up 2-1 with 20-plus minutes to go, Navy held CSU without a shot down the stretch, while continuing to keep the Bucs on their heels with eight total shots and three shots on frame, though none resulted in a goal to the dismay of the home crowd in Annapolis.

"We started pressing higher in the second half so we were winning the ball higher and connecting passes into our attack quicker," commented Gabarra about the Mids' play in the second half. Our first touches got better as the game progressed, as did our play off the ball and our overall speed of play. It didn't matter what 11 we had out there, whoever we rotated in did their job well."

Navy will be back in action at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility on Sunday afternoon when the Mids host the St. John's Red Storm at 1 p.m.