HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Navy women's soccer team dropped its second consecutive Patriot League game as the Mids fell on the road at Colgate University on Saturday afternoon. An early goal in the ninth minute by the Raiders (2-7-2, 1-1-1 PL) was the difference-maker as the Mids (5-3-3, 1-2-0 PL) were unable to find a tying score before the hosts netted a late insurance goal to salt away the 2-0 decision at Beyer-Small '76 Field.

"Once again we struggled to start the game with the necessary intensity," remarked head coach Carin Gabarra. "We looked flat; we were playing on the back on our heels versus attacking. A common factor in our three losses this year are early goals. The Patriot League is too tough top-to-bottom and we can't continue to fail to put together 90-minute efforts.

"Offensively, the quality of our services weren't where they needed to be. The game was decided with the play inside the 18's, both offensively and defensively; they out-fought us on both ends."

Always dangerous off of restarts Navy was on attack early as Amanda Graziano (Jr., Middlebury, Conn.) whipped a threatening corner kick towards the far upper-90 and forced Colgate's goalkeeper, Alli Popham, to bat the potential score away from the goal line in the eighth minute. On the rebound, Marlee Heaven (So., Rockville, Md.) didn't think twice and ripped a one-timer that sailed off frame.

The action flipped ends of the field as just over a minute later, the Raiders broke onto the scoreboard first with an Ari Bezanson goal at 8:40.

Down, but not out, the Mids immediately starting fighting back as Heaven set up Jenna Daunt (Sr., Haymarket, Va.) for a shot that missed left of the goal following the kickoff before Rylee Rives (Jr., Arlington, Texas) soared up and met a corner kick, though her attempt five minutes later was also off-target.

Mattie Gallagher (Sr., Gilbertsville, Pa.) helped Navy hold the score at 1-0 as she leapt up and denied an Ana Schremp shot in the 19th minute.

Heaven had strong look at a potential game-tying tally in the 24th minute when she deked a pair of Colgate defenders and squared up a shot that tested Popham.

Neither team was able to affect the scoreboard for the rest of the first half, as they combined for just two shots, and the teams retired to the locker room with the Raiders ahead 1-0.

Coming out trailing by a goal, Navy had the first scoring look as Alexa Riddle (Jr., Tomball, Texas) called her own number and took the first shot of the second half in the 51st minute. Unfortunately for the visitors, her attempt was wide right.

For the next 20 minutes, the Mids constantly were making in-roads into the Raiders' final third, but their builds were short-circuited before the process was complete in the form of shots on goal. Finally, Navy was able to breakthrough with a look on frame in the 71st minute when Riddle curled a cross off the left wing into the box where Hannah Mulholland (Fr., Chandler, Ariz.) volleyed the ball into the waiting hands of Popham.

While Navy stayed on the hunt for its first goal of the contest, Colgate took advantage of an error on defense and snuck home another score at 75:45.

With the score 2-0, the Raiders held the Mids scoreless for the final 14-plus minutes as the visitors could only muster two off-target shots.

For the game, Navy outshot Colgate, 11-9, though both sides recorded three shots on goal. The Mids held a significant 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The Mids will have a quick turnaround as they'll be in action on Monday with a non-conference tilt versus Marymount. Kickoff between the Mids and Saints is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.