ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The No. 22 Navy women's lacrosse team (11-5, 6-2 Patriot League) posted an 18-4 victory over Lafayette (6-9, 2-6 Patriot League) on Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
 
The game, which was presented by First Command, served as Senior Day for the Midshipmen. Prior to the game, the Mids recognized eight senior players – Alyssa Daley, Tori DiCarlo, Lizzie Kelley, Lola Leone, Megan Marengo, Emily Messinese, Grace Peterson, and Emma Richardell – along with student manager, Garrett King.
 
"It is an amazing senior class," head coach Cindy Timchal said. "Led by captains Emily Messinese and Lola Leone, you couldn't ask for a better senior class. For them to all get a chance to play and contribute to the win today was special. They have helped us win the past four years, but today is always special because we are honoring them in a very special way. The underclassmen played well to show the seniors how special they are; and the seniors played well in return to show the underclassmen what they mean to them. It is great to showcase the seniors and get the crowd behind this Navy women's lacrosse team. We end the regular season on the road, but it was special to be able to have these seniors earn a win in their final regular season home game."
 
Thirty-eight (38) Midshipmen saw action in the game. As a team, Navy finished the game with 18 goals on 37 shots, while limiting Lafayette to just four goals on 11 total shots. The Mids won 21 draw controls, picked up 20 ground balls, while causing 12 of the Leopards' 23 turnovers
 
The Midshipmen seniors combined for 11 points on six goals and five assists with six ground balls, four caused turnovers, and 16 draw controls. DiCarlo led the senior class with six total points on three goals and three assists, while Messinese followed with three points on a goal and two helpers. Kelley and Leone both added goals. For Kelley, it was the senior's first collegiate goal. Peterson led the team with two caused turnovers, while fellow seniors Daley and DiCarlo added takeaways. DiCarlo paced the seniors with two ground balls with Kelley, Marengo, Messinese, and Peterson adding one apiece. Daley finished with 14 of Navy's 21 draw controls with Messinese added a pair. At goal, Richardell worked 15 minutes in the cage, allowing a goal and recording a save.
 
Mikayla Williams led the entire team with five goals, while Alyssa Chung added three goals and two assists for five points. Ava Yovino finished with three points on a pair of goals and an assist, while Taylor Miles notched two points on a goal and an assist. Anna Gotterup scored a goal and Maggie DeFabio added an assist to round out the point scorers for the Midshipmen.
 
The Navy defense held the Lafayette offense to four goals, marking the sixth time this season the Mids held a Patriot League opponent to single-digits. Jaclyn Johns and Yovino joined Peterson with two caused turnovers. DeFabio led the team with three ground balls with Landen Cain, Johns, and Yovino chipping in two GB apiece. Felicia Giglio worked 45 minutes at goal for the Midshipmen. The sophomore surrendered just three goals, while registering a stop.
 
For Lafayette, Sara Rogers scored three of the Leopards four goals with four visitors finishing with assists in the game. Four different Leopard players finished with three ground balls each. Lindsay Geiger led the squad with two caused turnovers, while Katie Marrs won a pair of draw controls. Molly Terraciano worked a complete game at goal, allowing 18 goals and registering eight saves.
 
Navy opened the game with a 7-0 run to take control and never looked back. DiCarlo began the run with a free-position goal and Williams notched three of the next four goals. Miles added a goal between a pair of Williams goals. Miles lined up for a free-position opportunity and dished the ball over to Kelley in front of the cage, and the senior bounced a low shot past the keeper for Kelley's first collegiate goal on Senior Day. DiCarlo scored her second goal to complete the 7-0 run. Rogers put the Leopards on the scoreboard, but the Midshipmen led 7-1 through one period.
 
In the second quarter, DiCarlo completed her hat trick to extend the advantage to seven. Lafayette countered with a pair of Rogers goals, but Williams and Leone answered with goals to go into halftime with a 10-3 advantage.
 
Navy outscored Lafayette, 6-0, in the third quarter to go ahead by double-digits. Chung scored a pair of goals around Williams' fifth goal of the day. Yovino continued the run with back-to-back goals and Gotterup closed out the quarter with an unassisted goal. The Leopards scored a goal to start the fourth quarter, but Chung and Messinese closed out the game with goals to provide the final margin of 18-4.
 
Up next, the Midshipmen return action at American on Thursday, April 24 at 1:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C. The game will be the broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.