JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tied 9-9 with just over a minute to play, a costly turnover by the Midshipmen gave the Dolphins a chance to play for the last shot. Jacksonville (2-4) was able to break the tie with 16 seconds to play and earn a 10-9 win over the No. 19 Navy women's lacrosse team (5-2) on Saturday afternoon at Rock Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
 
"It is always difficult to lose," head coach Cindy Timchal said after the game. "We were focused and ready to play, but we just weren't able to score on some of our opportunities. We were in situations where we need to be a little more disciplined. I am proud of the team for the way they played through the whole game. We have a lot of players out there who are really trying to win and do well, but it is hard to win. After a tough loss, there is always a lot of reflection. I think by focusing on the things we can do moving forward; we will put this behind us and continue to move in the right direction."
 
The loss is the second of the season for the Midshipmen and the second time the Mids did not score double-digit goals. In its five victories, Navy is averaging 16.0 goals per game, while only scoring nine time in each loss.
 
The game was tight throughout with neither team leading by more than two goals and being tied seven different times.
 
Navy had a 31-26 advantage on shots and a 22-18 edge in shots on goal, while Jacksonville recorded 13 saves compared to eight by the Midshipmen. JU committed 15 turnovers with the Mids causing five. Navy had eight turnovers with the home team being responsible for four takeaways. The Mids held a 13-9 advantage in ground balls, but Jacksonville won 13 of 22 draw controls, including holding a 10-4 advantage midway through the third quarter to gain extra possessions.
 
Mikayla Williams was a standout for the Midshipmen in the game. The sophomore finished with a team-high four points on three goals and an assist, while adding three draw controls, two ground balls, and a caused turnover. Trailing 9-8, Williams scored to knot the game at 9-9 with two minutes to play. On the ensuing draw control, she won possession to set up the offense, but a turnover by Navy gave Jacksonville the ball back.
 
Emily Messinese and Ava Yovino added two goals apiece, while Emma Kennedy and Kat McAteer both found the back of the net. Kennedy and Tori DiCarlo joined Williams with assists on the day.
 
Maggie DeFabio led the team with two caused turnovers, while adding a ground ball and a draw control. Felicia Giglio led the team with three ground balls to go along with a caused turnover. Jaclyn Johns and Williams rounded out the caused turnovers with Williams, Grace Peterson, and Landen Cain picking up two ground balls apiece.
 
Giglio finished the game with eight saves in a complete-game effort at goal. The sophomore registered six stops through the first half, including five saves in the second period.
 
Alyssa Daley led the team with five draw controls, while Williams added three draws. DeFabio's draw win rounded out the Mids' nine draws on the day.
 
For Jacksonville, Shae Hagans finished with a team-high three goals, including the game winner. She was joined by Allyx Berry and Madions Plitt who added two scores apiece. Maggie Cuddy led JU with five draw controls and two caused turnovers, while Julia Nicholson had a team-best three ground balls. Brookelynn Hodgin picked up the win at goal, recording 13 saves and allowing just nine goals.
 
Jacksonville was the first team to score, netting a pair of early goals to take a 2-0 lead. Navy countered with a free-position goal by Kennedy and an equalizer by Williams to send the game into the second quarter locked at 2-2.
 
The Dolphins broke the tie to start the second quarter, regaining a one-goal advantage. Messinese and Williams both scored to give the Midshipmen their first lead of the afternoon, 4-3. JU was able to tie the game at four apiece, but Yovino gave the Mids a 5-4 lead on a free-position goal. Once again, Jacksonville managed to tie the game with a goal just before halftime.
 
In the third quarter, Navy scored three of the first four goals of the period to take its largest lead of the day, 8-6. Messinese, McAteer, and Yovino each found the back of the net in the third quarter. JU used a goal with two seconds remaining in the quarter to trim the margin to one, 8-7, heading into the final quarter of play.
 
Jacksonville regained a lead on a pair of goals in the fourth quarter. Trailing 9-8 with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, Williams locked the game at nine with her third goal of the contest. The sophomore won the ensuing draw control to give Navy possession. The Mids worked the ball around to set up a shot, but an errant pass gave the ball back to the home team. The Dolphins were able to find a seam in the defense and Hagans scored with 16 ticks on the game clock. JU won the final draw and was able to run out the clock and earn the victory.
 
Navy continues its road swing in Gainesville, Fla. as the Mids take on No. 9 Florida (4-2) on Wednesday, March 12 at 1:00 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.