ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy women's soccer team kept its early run of undefeated play in 2023 alive on Sunday with a hard fought and dramatic 1-1 tie versus Ohio University. Down early 1-0 in the first half, the Mids (1-0-3) netted the game-tying tally in the 46th minute when the Bobcats (2-0-1) tried to clear the ball deep in their defensive third and struck the clearance right into Amanda Graziano (Jr., Middlebury, Conn.), who deflected the ball home to make it 1-1. That goal stood up as the game-tying score as Ohio missed a penalty kick with 22 seconds remaining in regulation.
 
Mattie Gallagher (Sr., Gilbertsville, Pa.) was active throughout the contest in goal for the Mids on Sunday afternoon at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility as she was credited with nine saves with numerous other batted crosses to her name. With Ohio locked in on netting the go-ahead goal in the second half, Gallagher came up with six saves, while defending four corner kicks.
 
"That was a very north-south game with a lot of action and a lot chances for both teams," remarked head coach Carin Gabarra. "It was a warm day out here and the second game of a long weekend set for both teams. I'm proud of our mentality because its there and its very good. We've done a good job of recovering from being down goals and we've responded well. We've seen a lot of good bits and pieces over our run of games so far; we just need to put all of those together. We're playing a lot of players and getting them important minutes of game experience; that should pay off for us in the end. We need to figure out how to make more of our chances, be better in the attacking third, play with patience and finding ways to score goals in the bigger moments."
 
The action on Sunday started out fast for the visitors from Athens, Ohio as the Bobcats rattled off three shots, including two on goal in the opening 11:30 of play. Unfortunately for the host Midshipmen, that second look on goal, a curling Scout Murray strike, found its way into the far upper-90 to help the Bobcats go up 1-0.
 
Unfazed by the early deficit, Navy started making offensive in-roads in the in the 21st minute when a corner kick opportunity turned into two shots on goal in quick succession. Lined up to take the corner kick, Graziano played a short ball to Alexa Riddle (Jr., Tomball, Texas), who laid off the ball a few yards closer to the goal for Graziano to rip a deep shot that forced Ohio's goalkeeper Celeste Sloma to punch the ball away to an on-coming Kassidy Borden (Sr., Leesburg, Va.), who lofted the ball into the six to Rylee Rives (Jr., Arlington, Texas), who lightly volleyed a second shot on goal to the waiting Sloma.
 
The game stayed at a 1-0 margin for the next 24 minutes of the half as Ohio was unable to get either one of its final two shots on goal past Gallagher, while Mimi Abusham's (So., Los Alamitos, Calif.) shot was denied by Sloma in the 31st minute.
 
Coming out of the locker room trailing by a goal, Navy dialed up some instant offense as Graziano evened the score just 64 seconds into the second half as a nonchalant clearing attempt by Ohio saw Sloma frantically try and get the ball out of the box and blindly unload a kick that hit Graziano squarely in the body and right back past her into the gaping net.
 
With the score 1-1 both teams ratcheted up the pressure in search of a second goal as the Ohio registered four shots over the next 15 minutes, while Navy countered with three. Two of those Bobcat looks forced Gallagher to come up with saves.
 
Ohio continued to keep Gallagher on her toes as in the 63rd minute she stopped a Haley Miller free kick before seconds later an ensuing cross spelled danger inside the box and required her to leap off her line and bat the ball away.
 
That was a common theme down the stretch in the final 20 minutes of regulation as Gallagher made three saves and had to navigate a pair of corner kicks and two more free kicks that were taken with 25 yards.
 
With just 22 seconds remaining in the 1-1 contest, Ohio had a chance to walk away with the road victory when a handball was called inside Navy's box. Fortunately for the Mids and their home fans, the Bobcats' attempt from the penalty spot was pushed wide left and the game clock clicked down to all zeroes.
 
For the game, Ohio outshot Navy, 19-10 with a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal. The Bobcats also held a 6-5 edge in corner kick opportunities.
 
With those nine saves this afternoon Gallagher is up to 21 saves on the season and 229 for her career. In the all-time program standings, she surpassed Dayton Wetherby (223 saves, 2013-16) and Lizzie Barnes (224 saves, 2005-08) today and trails just Kim Bonafede (234 saves, 2001-04) and Amy Hakola (479, 1994-97).
 
"Mattie was outstanding today," exclaimed Gabarra. "Goalkeeper is such a hard position to play as they have a huge part in team success. Putting together a good 90 minutes is essential for her because she's really a stalwart to our defense. Mattie's leadership is essential for us both on and off the field."
 
Navy will be back in action next Thursday at Presbyterian College. Kickoff between the Mids and Blue Hose is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Clinton, S.C.