Perseverance Prevails as Mids Live on the Edge with One-Goal Victories

Navy’s young season has been an exercise in perseverance.

Down four to Saint Joseph’s with seven minutes remaining and staring at a possible disappointing 0-2 record to start to the season, the Mids responded with five straight goals to win the game.

Fast forward to this past Saturday and the Mids again found themselves in a second-half hole, this time by five to then-No. 13 Florida. Last season, the Gators turned a nine-goal deficit into a thrilling win in Gainesville. This season, it was Navy’s turn.

Navy again scored the final five goals in a game, all coming in the last 4:30. Kelly Larkin’s tally with 16.5 seconds remaining proved to be the difference in a 14-13 win over Florida.

“[Florida is] a tough, tough team,” said Navy coach Cindy Timchal, whose team jumped back into the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women's Top 20 this week at No. 16. “We don’t like coming from behind. It just so happened that we were able to get the run at the end of the game and stuck it out. It was a great game all around and I’m proud of the players to persevere in that situation.”

The Midshipmen have been living on the edge in 2019. Winners of four straight games after that season-opening loss to Virginia, Navy has three one-goal victories.

“We came off the Virginia game being very disappointed because we prepared the team well,” Timchal said. “We don’t want to be losing games and we’re fortunate that they’ve gone our way. I have to credit our players. Lacrosse is all about momentum shifts and playing through them. We’ve been fortunate.”

Fortune favored Navy on Saturday as Timchal punched the right buttons to jump start her team. Arguably the most crucial decision came with 15:49 remaining as Timchal lifted starting goalie Gab Harchelroad as Florida was doubling up the Mids, 10-5. While Harchelroad played solidly, recording eight saves, Timchal was looking somewhere for inspiration.

“Spark the team and give a different look,” the Hall of Fame coach said of the goalie swap. “Gabby is our starter and she came up with big saves early against Florida. When they got the big lead, it was time to make a change then. It was the right thing to do in that situation. At that point, we wanted to get some momentum for Navy. That seemed to shift the momentum a bit.”

Abbi Young would go on to make four saves, yielding just three goals, while the offense in front of her began connecting on its shots and winning draw controls. Navy outscored Florida 9-3 down the stretch with a steady dose of Kayla Harris, Reagan Roelofs, Andie O’Sullivan and Larkin fueling the comeback.

“Kelly Larkin is a great attacker and sets up her teammates,” Timchal gushed. “Andie is one of our captains and has great leadership and organizing things on the offensive end. She does the extra scrap to win a draw control or caused turnover. She’s had a bit of a shooting slump and used the opportunity to come through when the game was tough and put a couple goals in.”

The momentum was carried from each Navy goal by draw control wins. The Mids won 12 of 18 draws in the second half with Annalise Heyward winning four of the final six draws en route to a career-high 10.

“She’s a real student of the game,” Timchal said. “She commits a lot of time to lacrosse during the school day between classes. She’s a middie, so she has to be the first back on D and first to get up on offense. She’s meshing with the attackers and having the draw situation as well. ... I liked her play because of her ability to maintain poise and focus.”

The Navy draw control unit and defense will face their steepest challenge yet on Wednesday when it welcomes top-ranked Boston College to Annapolis.

“They come in with two of the most prolific attackers in the country – Kenzie Kent and Sam Apuzzo,” Timchal said. “They’re explosive and dynamic. They’re the real deal. Couple that with Apuzzo with being one of the best draw takers in the country, ... we have to really fight for 50-50 balls, play great defense and take advantage of all opportunities that we’re given.”

Stanford Snaps Stony Brook’s 33-Game Home Win Streak

Like Navy, Stanford (4-1) lost its opener and responded with four straight wins, which culminated with an upset victory at Stony Brook (2-2). The Cardinal ended the Seawolves' 33-game home winning streak, which started on March 8, 2016. Ali Baiocco had 11 goals in two games at Albany and Stony Brook. No. 14 Stanford begins Pac-12 play this week with Colorado.

Orange Offense Hums in Victory over Virginia

Syracuse (6-1, 1-1 ACC) raced out to a 10-5 halftime lead and again shot over 50 percent from the field to beat Virginia, 16-11. While its offense was clicking, the defense was turning the Cavaliers (5-1, 0-1 ACC) over repeatedly. Fifteen of UVA's 21 turnovers were caused by a Syracuse defender. In every game this season, Syracuse has held a halftime lead. The Orange are averaging 10.3 goals in the first half, while allowing just 3.7. There’s a precipitous drop in second-half production (5.3) and a steady increase in goals allowed (5.7), a trend worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses. No. 2 Maryland awaits Syracuse on Saturday.

Carolina Christens New Stadium

The Tar Heels (4-1) scored 15 of the game’s first 18 goals at its new UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium in a 21-11 win over Northwestern (3-2). North Carolina’s finishing was clinical (72.4 percent), led by Jamie Ortega’s 10-point effort. Ortega struck the net seven times on eight shots, while Taylor McDaniels was a perfect five-for-five. Carolina’s ACC opener is at home to Virginia on Saturday.

Ivy Icebreakers

The Ivy League joined the ACC this week for in-conference action. Princeton (19-1 over Columbia), Penn (15-4 over Yale), Dartmouth (15-11 over Brown) and Cornell (11-5 over Harvard) were the opening weekend winners. Dartmouth’s Kierra Sweeney (five goals) and Kellen D’Alleva (six assists) boasted top performances in each statistical category.

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