WEST POINT, N.Y. – Trailing 12-10 with 16 and a half minutes to play, the #19 Navy women's lacrosse team (4-0, 1-0 Patriot League) scored the final three goals to claim a 13-12 victory over Army (0-3, 0-2 PL) on Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y.
The final 11 minutes were all Navy as team captain Marina Lazarides (Westminster, Md.) scored a goal to pull the Midshipmen to within one, 12-11. Ellie Lecker (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) scored her fourth goal of the game to knot the score with 5:30 to play. With just under four minutes to play, Nicole Victory (Issaquah, Wash.) broke the tie with a goal to put Navy in front 13-12.
With time counting down, Lazarides caused a turnover on an Army clear attempt and was able to pick up the loose ball. The Mids were able to close out the game and secure the one-goal win.
"First of all, go Navy women's lacrosse," head coach Cindy Timchal said after the game. "It was a really short week for us. We got out of ROM on Monday. It is a tribute to our players. I am very proud of our team to be able to come from behind and secure the victory. We hadn't played in a month and we hadn't practiced in three weeks. We were starting at ground zero. However, competition is competition. Army showed up to play tough, led by some amazing seniors. They gave us all we could handle today. Our mission today and this week was to represent Navy and Navy women's lacrosse. That was our goal. I am very proud of Navy women's lacrosse."
Victory finished the game with three goals, including the game winner, a pair of assists to help Navy to the one-goal win. All three of Victory's goals proved to be big as two scores gave the Midshipmen the lead and one tied the game. In addition, the senior added a pair of assists for five points. Lecker finished the game with a career-high five points on a career-high four goals, while adding an assist. Reagan Roelofs (Apple Valley, Minn.) chipped in four points with a pair of scores and two helpers.
Defensively, Jo Torres (Prince Frederick, Md.) earned her first collegiate victory. The freshman entered the game in the second half and proceeded to notch 10 saves in 30 minutes, limiting the Army offensive attack to just five goals in the second half. Abbi Young (Alamo, Calif.) earned the start at goal. The junior registered four saves in the first half, while allowing seven goals. The Navy defense withstood a 33-22 advantage by Army in shots, including 26 shots on goal.
Army held a slight 14-12 advantage in draw controls. Lecker paced the Mids with five draws, while Roelofs and Gil Eby (Towson, Md.) added three apiece. Clears were even for both teams (13 of 16), while the Black Knights had an advantage in ground balls (14-10). Navy caused seven of Army's 11 turnovers, while the Black Knights caused five of the Mids' 10.
In the first half, Army jumped out to a 3-1 advantage with Navy's loan goal coming off a free-position attempt from Roelofs. The Midshipmen responded with six straight goals to take a 7-3 advantage. During the run, Lecker completed the natural hat trick with three straight free-position goals to put Navy in front. Roelofs added her second goal off of an assist from Lecker. Isabelle Thornburg (Alexandria, Va.) netted her first collegiate goal to extend the advantage to 6-3 and Eby capped the run with her first goal of the contest. Army responded with four straight goals to knot the game at 7-7. Victory found the back of the net with five ticks on the clock to give Navy an 8-7 advantage heading into halftime.
In the second half, Army continued their scoring, opening the frame on a 4-1 run. Back-to-back goals by the Black Knights gave the Cadets a 9-8 edge. Victory answered with her second goal of the game to tie the score, but consecutive scores by Army gave the home team an 11-9 advantage. Grace Zagaja (Centerport, N.Y.) found the back of the net to close the gap to one, but a goal by the Black Knights pushed the margin back to two, leading to the dramatic finish.
Navy returns to action on Wednesday, March 31, as the Midshipmen host #13 Loyola at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Opening draw is slated for 5:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.
