ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Tied 7-7 through three quarters, the No. 19 Navy women's lacrosse team (5-1) used a 5-0 run to take control en route to a 12-8 victory over High Point (1-3) on Sunday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. Sophomore goalkeeper
Felicia Giglio finished the game with 11 saves as the Midshipmen held the Panthers to single-digit goals, while the Mids got into a groove offensively in the final quarter of play to secure the win.
"I am proud of the team," head coach
Cindy Timchal said after the game. "Our goal was to hold them to single digits, and our defense was able to get it done today. That gave us the opportunity to really forge through on the offensive end. Execution-wise, we were a little off, but I am proud of the team for putting it together.
"Our shooting was off in the beginning, and I really have to give credit to the High Point goalie [Ava Welsh]. The High Point team really pushed us to the limit. They made it tight and tied it up. That could've made us get tense, but we just kept running towards victory. We got our shots off, stayed composed, and finished the game. We are happy with the victory."
The Navy defense held its second opponent of the year to single-digit goals. In their last outing, the Panthers scored 21 goals, but the Mids' defensive unit was able to hold the High Point offense to just eight goals on the day.
Giglio finished the game with 11 saves, tying a career high in stops set a week ago against Harvard. It is the third consecutive game that Giglio has registered double-digit saves and the fourth time in her young career. Additionally, Giglio added a pair of ground balls.
Maggie DeFabio,
Jaclyn Johns,
Emily Messinese, and
Mikayla Williams led the team with three GB apiece, while
Alyssa Chung and
Ava Yovino joined Giglio with two ground balls each. Navy caused nine of High Point's 17 turnovers. Chung led the Midshipmen with three caused turnovers on the day, while Yovino added two takeaways.
Offensively, Navy scored 12 goals with four assists. The Midshipmen received four goals from Chung, which tied her season high that she scored at No. 20 Richmond.
Kat McAteer and Williams added two goals apiece. McAteer's two scores sparked the Mids' 5-0 fourth quarter run that sealed the victory. DeFabio, Yovino, and
Tori DiCarlo also scored goals with another goal coming on an own goal by High Point.
Messinese was credited with two of Navy's four assists with DeFabio and Yovino also chipping in helpers.
Alyssa Daley led the team with six draw controls, while Messinese and Williams added four draw wins apiece.
For High point, Shannon Smith and Lily Trout led the way with wo goals apiece. Allie Connally had a team-high two assists to go along with a team-best three draw controls. Ava Walsh finished the game with 18 saves at goal, surrendering 12 goals in a losing effort.
In the first quarter, Navy jumped out to a quick lead thanks to a pair of goals by Chung. High Point countered with a goal, but Williams closed out the quarter with her first score of the game.
The Panthers tied the game in the second quarter with a pair of goals, but the Midshipmen took a 4-3 lead thanks to an own goal by the visitors.
In the second half, Navy used goals by DeFabio, DiCarlo, and Chung to push the advantage to 7-3. High Point rallied with a 4-0 run to end the quarter to head into the final quarter of play knotted at 7-7.
In the fourth quarter, McAteer sparked a 5-0 run with back-to-back goals to give the Mids a 9-7 lead. Chung followed with her fourth goal of the game, while Yovino buried a pass from DeFabio in the back of the net to push the Navy lead to four, 11-7. Williams completed the run with a goal to extend the advantage to five. Trout scored on a free-position opportunity to provide the final margin of 12-8.
Navy returns to action on Saturday, March 8, as the Midshipmen take on Jacksonville (1-4) down in Florida. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.
