ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A busy week lies ahead for the Navy women's soccer program with a pair of Patriot League contests over a four-day span. First up for the Mids (8-7-1, 2-2-1 PL) is a home bout versus the American University Eagles (4-5-2, 0-4-1 PL) on Wednesday night. Part of a crowded conference leaderboard in which second through seventh place are separated by just two points, the Mids will be looking to extended their eight-game (7-0-1) home unbeaten streak against the Eagles beginning at 7 p.m. at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. Following Wednesday night's action, Navy will quickly turn its attention to a road bout at Army for the 2024 Women's Soccer Star on Saturday.

The Navy-American contest on Wednesday will have live stats provided online, as well as an accompanying ESPN+ broadcast. ESPN+ is a subscription-based streaming service that requires patrons to sign-up for monthly or yearly plans prior to tuning into the contest.

Navy vs. American
Wednesday will be the 33rd meeting between the two nearby schools in a series that began on Sept. 7, 1994 ... Navy leads the series 20-8-4 and has outscored American, 60-30 all-time ... The Mids are 10-3-2 at home versus the Eagles, including a current eight-game (7-0-1) unbeaten streak at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility ... Navy and American have gone through large momentum swings throughout this series as the Mids won the first four meetings from 1994-1998 before stringing together its current run of 15 games with just a single loss (13-1-1) from 2011-2023, including two postseason victories during that span ... During this 13-year run of recent play for Navy, the Mids have outscored the Eagles, 31-7.

Last Five Matchups
In the last five meetings dating back to 2019, Navy is 3-1-1 and has outscored American, 5-2 ... Four of the five contests have been decided by one or fewer goals.
    Oct. 11, 2023 (A): American 1 - Navy 0
    Oct. 12, 2022 (H): Navy 1 - American 0
    Oct. 13, 2021 (A): Navy 2 - American 0
    April 9, 2021 (H): Navy 1 - American 1
    Oct. 23, 2019 (A): Navy 1 - American 0

Most Recent Navy-American Matchup: October 11, 2023 in Washington, D.C.
Navy dropped a midweek match at American on Wednesday afternoon by a score of 1-0. Tied through the first 82 minutes of action at Reeves Field, the Eagles received a goal by Brooke Steel at 82:29 to down the Mids and gained an important three points in the Patriot League standings.

The first half was extremely evenly matched and saw 45 minutes go by without either side finding their way onto the scoreboard. Mattie Gallagher turned aside the host Eagles' first shot on goal of the stanza just 78 seconds into the game when she grabbed Bella Vozar's header attempt. Navy's lone shot on goal of the half came just over 10 minutes later when Kassidy Borden found Alexa Riddle on a throw-in. After receiving the pass, Riddle spun around the American defender that was draped over her and ripped a low line drive shot from just outside the 18-yard box though Julia Kato leapt into action and dove on the shot.

Coming out of the locker room knotted at 0-0, Navy was extremely active in the attacking third during the initial run of play in the second half, but the visitors were unable to tie together their final passes for a shot on goal. After withstanding that early blitz by Navy out over the first four minutes of the second half, American registered the first shot on goal of the period when Phoebe Merrigan launched a free kick on goal towards the upper 90, though Gallagher was able to jump up and snatch it.

The Mids' offense continued aggressively looking for the first goal of the game and in the 53rd minute, Riddle curled a cross to the opposite side of the field to Emma Romano. After controlling the pass, Romano slid the ball back towards the penalty spot and Jenna Daunt, who unleashed a pair of shots, but unfortunately for the Mids' captain an Eagle defender was in front of both efforts. Ten minutes later, Kat Healey finally was able to test Kato when she ripped a long range shot on goal, though the American goalkeeper denied the attempt. Only two shots were officially recorded over the ensuing 15 minutes, both for the Eagles. 

Navy's offensive builds picked right back up soon after and Amanda Graziano slipped a lead pass through American's defense for the on-coming Riddle, but similar to the first half, Kato was active off her line and sprinted outside the box to meet Riddle head-on and interrupted the one-on-one opportunity without a shot being taken in the 82nd minute.

Thriving off that defensive stand, the Eagles put away the first and only goal of the contest at 82:29 when Eliza Fisher found Brooke Steel for the eventual game-winner.

Down 1-0 with less than eight minutes to go, the Mids went down swinging as a four-part constructed play in the 87th minute saw Borden loft a ball over the top to Mimi Abusham, who quickly flicked on the pass to Rylee Rives and eventually Graziano. With the Eagles' defense on their heels, Graziano took aim at the net only so see a defender dive in late and block the shot away from the goal.

For the game, American out-shot Navy, 12-7 with a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal. The Mids' pressure on the attack, while not resulting in official shots, garnered the visitors a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.

Comparing the Teams

2024 Stats	Navy	American
Record / League	8-7-1 / 2-2-1 PL	4-5-2 / 0-4-1 PL
Home / Away	6-4-0 / 2-3-1	1-3-0 / 3-2-2
Goals/Gm	2.06	1.27
Assists/Gm	1.94	1.00
Shots/Gm	13.0	15.8
Goals Against Average	1.69	1.64
GK Saves/Gm	4.69	3.09
Common Opponents:	VMI - W, 3-2 Maryland - L, 0-1 Bucknell - L ,0-1 Colgate - L, 0-3	VMI - L, 0-1 Maryland - W, 2-0 Bucknell - L, 1-3 Colgate - L, 1-3

Individual Leaders

	Navy	American
Goals	Heaven/Riddle, 5	Stewart, 5
Assists	Graziano, 6	Stewart, 4
Points	Graziano, 14	Stewart, 14
Shots	Riddle, 32	Stewart, 29
GK Saves	Stramrood, 67	Roemer, 30

Last Time Out: October 11 versus Bucknell 
In a matchup of teams separated by just two points at the top of the Patriot League standings coming into the game, the first-place Bucknell Bison held onto their spot with a 1-0 victory over the Navy Midshipmen at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. The visiting Bison (8-3-2, 4-1 PL) went ahead in the 30th minute on a Teresa Deda goal and kept the Mids (8-7-1, 2-2-1 PL) off the scoreboard for the remaining 60 minutes to earn the win on Friday night.

Bucknell was active early-and-often on Navy's home pitch as it recorded two shots on goal versus Natasha Stramrood over the opening five minutes with three more corner kicks and two additional shots in the ensuing 10 minutes. The visitors kept control on both ends as the Mids were only able to muster two errant shots over the initial 25 minutes of play. The Bison used their success on defense to spark their offense as the two-time Patriot League Midfielder of the Year, Teresa Deda struck home the game's first goal at 29:30.

Down 1-0, Stramrood was called upon twice in the final three minutes of the first half with saves on shots by Deda in the 43rd minute and Presley Sutter right as the clock struck zero.

Coming out of the locker room, Bucknell re-engaged its offense quickly with four shots and one corner kick over the first 10 minutes of the stanza. Stramrood turned aside the one shot that made its way on frame in the 51st minute.

Navy's offense started making significant in-roads over the final 30 minutes of play beginning with a long free kick by Amanda Graziano that had eyes for Tatum Kelly, but Bucknell's goalkeeper Jess Benattar was active off her line and intercepted the pass in the 60th minute. The Mids continued their quest to draw even as Alexa Riddle spun past her defender and ripped a shot that beat Benattar, but rang squarely into the left post in the 62nd minute.

Stramrood was called into action less than minute later with her final save of the game as she leapt up to the left corner of the goal frame and batted away a header attempt by Kelley Francis.

Navy's last push for an equalizer came in the final 10 minutes of action. Hannah Mulholland kick-started this run of play when Lucy Gaines crossed her the ball over to the right wing and she immediately placed a shot on goal at 80:57. Gaines was involved in the last look on goal of the game for the Mids in the 87th minute as she struck a deep, looping shot that forced Benattar to jump up and punch the shot into the crossbar.

For the game, Bucknell out-shot Navy, 15-7 with a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal. The Bison also held an edge in corner kicks by a 7-2 margin. Stramrood finished with six saves in goal for the Mids.

Parking / Shuttle / Ticket Information
Fans are reminded that the general public does not have access to drive their vehicles on to the U.S. Naval Academy. Fans may park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for a fee and take a shuttle that will run every 10 minutes starting one hour before the game and will continue running until one hour after the game is completed. Fans 18 and over need a government-issued photo ID. Enter Gate 5 off Taylor Ave. to park at the stadium. Dogs are not permitted inside the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. All soccer contests at Glenn Warner will be free of charge