Navy Wins Women's Lacrosse StarNavy Wins Women's Lacrosse Star
Women's Lacrosse

Navy Wins Women's Lacrosse Star

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The No. 14 Navy women's lacrosse team (11-3, 5-1 Patriot League) jumped out to an 8-0 lead early and never looked back as the Midshipmen cruised to a 21-8 victory over Army West Point (10-4, 3-3 PL) on Saturday afternoon. The Mids improved to 4-0 over the Black Knights all-time, including a 2-0 mark in the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA.
 
"The Army-Navy game is a wonderful tradition," head coach Cindy Timchal said. "I am proud of our players for stepping up today. It tends to be a little stressful, but what is great is the attention it brings to both the Navy men's and women's lacrosse programs. It was a beautiful day here in Annapolis with a ton of fans believing in Navy. That is what it is all about. I am proud of our team for being resilient and being tough, while facing a feisty Army team."
 
Navy tallied 21 goals on 37 shots, including 26 shots on goal. The Mids were led by a pair of attackers. Kelly Larkin (Alexandria, Va.) finished the game with nine points, while Nicole Victory (Issaquah, Wash.) recorded a career-high with eight points. Larkin finished with four goals and five assists, while Victory chipped in a pair of goals with a career-best six assists. Kayla Harris (Annapolis, Md.) and Marina Lazarides (Westminster, Md.) added four goals apiece, while Natalie Irwin (Annandale, Va.) contributed a hat trick with three goals.
 
Defensively, the Midshipmen caused 17 of the Black Knights' 20 turnovers on the day. Irwin led the way with a career-high four caused turnovers. Heyward, Lazarides, Andie O'Sullivan (Valley Cottage, N.Y.), and Marie Valenti (Bechtelsville, Pa.) each added two CTs apiece. The Mids picked up 21 ground balls on the day led by Valenti's six, while Reagan Roelofs (Apple Valley, Minn.) tied a career high with 11 draw controls on the day.
 
At goal, Gab Harchelroad (Pittsburgh, Pa.) picked up her 10th victory of the season. She surrendered seven goals with four saves to her credit, while adding a pair of ground balls. She was relieved by Abbi Young (Alamo, Calif.) and Annie Maloney (Ellicott City, Md.) who played the final 4:21 of the game, allowing one goal.
 
Navy started the game hot, opening the half with an 8-0 run to take control of the game. Lazarides scored to put the Midshipmen on the scoreboard. Victory posted three consecutive assists on a goal by Larkin and a pair of scores by Irwin. Larkin followed with three straight helpers on scores by Harris, O'Sullivan and Lazarides to put the home team in front 7-0. Victory ended the run with her first goal of the game off a Lazarides assist.
 
Army West Point found the back of the net to stop the run at eight, but Navy responded with a pair of goals by Victory and Lazarides to go up 10-1. The Black Knights scored three of the next four goals, but the Mids closed out the half four straight to take a 15-4 advantage into halftime. Irwin started the 4-0 run with a goal off a Larkin assist. Larkin followed with back-to-back goals of her own and Caitlin Blanche (Crofton, Md.) closed out the run with her first goal of the afternoon.
 
In the second half, the Black Knights were the first to score, but the Midshipmen answered with five straight goals. Harris scored back-to-back goals, while Larkin and Lazarides each added scores. Ellie Lecker (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) finished the run with a goal off a Valenti assist. Army West Point scored three of the final four goals of the game to provide the final margin of 21-8.