ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Junior Tori DiCarlo scored a career-high seven goals to lead the No. 17 Navy women's lacrosse team (4-0) to an 18-9 victory over Villanova (2-2) on Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The seven goals tied for the second-most goals scored in a game in program history.
 
"It was a great win for Navy women's lacrosse," head coach Cindy Timchal said after the game. "We came out strong, which we have been doing that since the beginning of the season. There was a little let down in the start of the second half, heading into the third quarter, but we have dedicated this season to excellence and effort. For this team to come together and play with poise and energy and really love each other; I am proud of the effort and all the team members. Villanova is a great team that provided us the opportunity to step out onto the field and excel today."
 
Navy's offense finished the game with 18 goals on 35 shots, including 25 on goal.
 
DiCarlo found the back of the net seven times on 10 shots to lead the team. It was the second most goals scored in a game by a Midshipmen and the most by a Navy player since Ava Yovino tied the program record with eight goals against Mount St. Mary's last season.
 
Emily Messinese finished the game with five goals, while adding an assist for six total points. Lindsay Beardmore, Maggie DeFabio, Emma Kennedy, Lola Leone, Kat McAteer, and Mikayla Williams also chipped in goals on the night.
 
McAteer and DeFabio led the team with two assists apiece, while Kennedy, Leone, and Messinese were also credited with helpers.
 
For the fourth time in as many games in 2024, Navy's defense held its opponent to single-digit goals. The Midshipmen defense caused 10 of Villanova's 15 turnovers. Goalkeeper Felicia Giglio finished the game with seven saves and a team high three ground balls. Caroline Stefans tied Giglio with three ground balls, while Alyssa Daley, Morgan Lewis, DeFabio, and Messinese finished with two ground balls each. DeFabio led the team with two caused turnovers, while eight other Mids finished the game with caused turnover.
 
The Mids nearly doubled the Wildcats in draw controls finishing with 19 draws compared to 10 by the visitors. Draws were tied seven to seven at half, but the Midshipmen out drew Nova, 12-3, in the second half. Daley registered her third consecutive game with double-digit draw controls, closing out the game with 10 draws. Messinese won three draws, while Stefans and Williams picked up two and one draw victories, respectively.
 
Sydney Pappas led Villanova with six goals, while Sami Carey and Kayla Gulmi paced the Wildcats with two assists apiece. NCAA draw control leader Emma Verhoest led Nova with five draw controls. Cate Gallagher (2 saves) and Makenzie Fisher (5) combined for seven saves at goal.
 
Messinese opened the scoring with her first goal of the game. Villanova knotted the score at 1-1, but Navy responded with a 4-0 run to take a 5-1 advantage. DiCarlo scored off of a Messinese assist to give the Mids a lead they would not relinquish. DeFabio followed with a goal and Messinese dented the net for the second time in the quarter. DeFabio found an open Beardmore who buried the ball in the back of the net to put Navy in front by four. The Wildcats converted a free-position opportunity, but DiCarlo and Messinese followed with back-to-back scores to give the Mids a 7-2 advantage through one quarter.
 
In the second quarter, DiCarlo started things off, completing her hat trick with her third goal of the game. The score remained 8-3 until Navy netted two goals in the final 15 seconds of the half. Messinese found the back of the net with 14 ticks remaining in the half. The Mids won the ensuing draw control and Williams scored a diving goal as time expired in the half to put Navy in front 10-3.
 
Villanova opened the second half with three straight goals to trim Navy's lead to 10-6. DiCarlo stopped the Nova run with her fourth score of the game. McAteer followed with a rocket past the goalie to double up the Wildcats, 12-6. After a Wildcat goal, Kennedy and DiCarlo each converted free-position shots to extend the advantage to seven. Villanova trimmed the margin to six, but Messinese ended the quarter with a goal to push the margin to seven, 15-8.
 
The fourth quarter saw DiCarlo once again start the scoring, netting her sixth goal of the game. Following a Villanova goal, Navy capped the game with back-to-back goals by Leone and DiCarlo to provide the final margin of 18-9.
 
Up next for the Midshipmen, Navy hosts Richmond at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Saturday, March 2 at 4:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.