Navy Secures Patriot League Title After Thrilling Overtime Victory
BALTIMORE, Md. – The Navy Midshipmen have emerged victorious in the Patriot League Tournament Championship, defeating the Loyola Greyhounds 14-13 in a nail-biting overtime clash at the Ridley Athletic Complex on Saturday. Sophomore Mikayla Williams scored the decisive golden goal just 16 seconds before the end of the first overtime period, propelling Navy to its seventh Patriot League Championship title in program history.
Historic Achievement
This victory marks Navy’s first title since 2018 and secures an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, making it the eighth time the Midshipmen have qualified for the national competition, with their last appearance in 2019.
Breaking the Streak
With this win, Navy ended Loyola’s impressive 61-game winning streak against Patriot League opponents, a run that included both regular season and postseason competitions. The victory marks only the fourth time in Navy’s history that they have triumphed over Loyola, with three of those wins occurring in the Patriot League Championship (2017, 2018, 2025).
Resilient Comeback
The Midshipmen demonstrated remarkable resilience by overcoming a five-goal deficit in the final stages of the match. Navy outscored Loyola 7-2 during the fourth quarter and overtime, a remarkable comeback reminiscent of their 2019 win against the University of Florida.
Coaching Perspective
Head coach Cindy Timchal commended her team’s effort, stating, “It was an exciting game. Give credit to Loyola. They pushed us to the limit. We had some tough quarters, but we fought all the way through and never gave up. We never quit believing in ourselves.” She emphasized the significant contribution of senior leaders, particularly captains Emily Messinese and Lola Leone.
Record-Breaking Performance
Senior draw control specialist Alyssa Daley made history during the match by achieving a new Navy and Patriot League record with 500 career draw controls, surpassing the previous record held by Loren Generi (’15). Daley finished the game with nine draw wins, aided by Williams and Messinese’s contributions.
Offensive Highlights
Alyssa Chung led the offensive charge for Navy, scoring five goals and setting a freshman record with a total of 65 goals for the season, surpassing the previous mark of 63 set by Meg Decker in 2008. Tori DiCarlo contributed significantly as well, netting three goals, including two from free-position shots. Emma Kennedy and Williams each scored twice, while Messinese provided critical assists.
Defensive Standouts
Navy’s defense was instrumental in securing the win, forcing nine turnovers from the Greyhounds. Landen Cain led with three caused turnovers, while Jaclyn Johns and others contributed to strong defensive play.
Significant Contributions from Both Teams
For Loyola, Georgia Latch had a standout performance, netting four goals and providing five assists. Chase Boyle added three goals and contributed seven draw controls, showcasing the competitive spirit throughout the game.
Game Progression
The match began with Navy quickly establishing a 2-0 lead before Loyola leveled the score. Despite fluctuating leads throughout the game, the tension peaked late in the fourth quarter, with DiCarlo scoring to tie the game at 13-13 with only seconds remaining in regulation. This set the stage for Williams’ decisive goal in overtime.
NCAA Tournament Outlook
Navy will learn their NCAA Championship destination during the Women’s Lacrosse Selection Show scheduled for May 4 at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN, marking the next significant challenge for the Midshipmen.
