PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – In a game that featured five runs of three goals or more, No. 17 Navy (8-3) was edged 14-13 by Saint Joseph's (5-5) on a rainy Wednesday afternoon at Sweeney Field in Philadelphia. The Midshipmen scored the first goal of the game, but the Hawks answered with a 5-0 run. The Mids countered with a 4-0 run and trailed 7-6 at halftime. Navy outscored Saint Joseph's 6-0 in the third quarter to go up 12-7, but the Hawks used a 7-1 run in the four quarter to earn the win.
 
"It was disappointing for the team," head coach Cindy Timchal said after the game. "In the end, Saint Joe's went hard all the way to the end. They became opportunistic and fought their way with some goals and made it tight. They ended up tying it and taking the lead and never looked back. For Navy women's lacrosse, it is a disappointing loss. It was a hard one for us on the road. We fought extremely hard. A couple of things didn't go our way in the fourth quarter that could've made a difference. We now need to rebound and move forward from here. We will have to go back and practice hard and be ready for our game on Saturday."
 
Offensively, seven Midshipmen combined for 13 goals on the day. Emily Messinese tied a career-high with five goals for her 10th hat trick of the season. Mikayla Williams added a hat trick with three goals, while Lindsay Beardmore, Maggie DeFabio, Tori DiCarlo, Caroline Gage, and Kat McAteer all found the back of the net.
 
Beardmore paced the team with two assists with Anna Gotterup, DeFabio, DiCarlo, and Williams added helpers in the game.
 
Defensively, Emma Richardell saw a majority of minutes at goal for the Midshipmen. The junior recorded six saves in 48:40 minutes of action, allowing nine scores. She entered the game in the first quarter in relief of starting goalkeeper Felicia Giglio who notched a save with five goals allowed in 11:20 of action.
 
Grace Peterson, Caroline Stefans, Gage, McAteer, and Williams each finished the game with caused turnovers. Gage led the team with three ground balls with Lola Leone, Morgan Lewis, and McAteer picking up a pair of ground balls each. DeFabio, Peterson, Stefans, and Williams also added GB in the game.
 
Navy won the draw control battle, 21-10. The Mids held a 19-3 lead in draws through three quarters, but the Hawks gained extra possessions in the fourth quarter holding a 7-2 advantage in draws in the final period of play. Alyssa Daley won a game-high nine draws with Messinese and Williams adding 7 and 4, respectively. Additionally, Stefans won a draw control on the afternoon.
 
For Saint Joseph's, Kate Fuhrman, Sarah Groark, and Maddie Yoder each finished with three goals apiece, while Emma O'Neill and Bonnie Yu chipped in two scores each. Jorden Concordia worked a complete game between the pipes, allowing 13 goals and registering 10 saves.
 
Williams started the game with a goal to put Navy in front 1-0 early, but a 5-0 run by Saint Joseph's gave the home team a 5-1 advantage. The Midshipmen used a 4-0 run to end the first quarter and start the second period to knot the score at five. Beardmore opened the run with her first score of the day, while Messinese scored a pair of goals around a DeFabio score. SJU regained a one-goal advantage, but Messinese completed her first-half hat trick with the equalizer to knot the score at 6-6. The Hawks broke the tie to take a 7-6 lead into halftime.
 
In the third quarter, Navy outscored Saint Joseph's, 6-0, to take a 12-7 lead. McAteer began the run with Gage turning defense into offense picking off a SJU pass and burying it into the net to give the Midshipmen an 8-7 edge. DiCarlo pushed the advantage to two and Williams followed with back-to-back scores. Messinese ended the period with a goal to give Navy a five-goal lead through three quarters.
 
Saint Joseph's trimmed the margin to two with three straight scores to open the fourth quarter. Messinese ended the Hawk's 3-0 run with a goal, but Saint Joseph's was able to score four goals to take a 14-13 lead with just over three minutes to play in regulation. Saint Joseph's won the ensuing draw control, but the Navy defense stepped up and Peterson caused a turnover. The Mids had an opportunity as Messinese rifled a shot in with just over a minute to play that was stopped by the Saint Joe's goalie. McAteer picked up the ground ball, but while trying to create separation, was whistled for an offensive foul giving the Hawks the ball with 48 ticks on the game clock. SJU was able to run out the clock and secure the one-goal win.
 
Navy returns to the friendly confines of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for Senior Day, as the Midshipmen welcome Patriot League foe Bucknell on Saturday, March 30. The game is part of a doubleheader with the Navy men's lacrosse team. Opening draw is slated for 3:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.