Rapid-fire start not enough to save season for Mids
Ahead after 29 seconds, Navy falls on penalty kicks to New Mexico
Navy women’s soccer could not have asked for a better start to Tuesday night’s NCAA Tournament matchup with New Mexico.
Junior midfielder Molly Gillcrist scored a goal just 29 seconds into the contest to give the Midshipmen an immediate lead.
Navy was unable to build on that early momentum and New Mexico wound up getting the equalizer late in the second half. Two overtime periods could not settle matters and the match ended in a 1-1 tie.
Goalkeeper Emily Johnson blocked two of the four shots she saw, while senior Madi Hirschman scored the decisive goal as New Mexico beat Navy 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout at the Gillette Soccer Complex in Wilson, North Carolina, to advance.
“That was a great collegiate soccer game,” Navy coach Carin Gabarra said. “I thought it was a quality, entertaining game and both teams played very well. I thought our effort and our heart was excellent. I have the utmost respect for our players because they fought to the end.”
Navy struck fast from the outset, with freshman defender Chloe Dawson delivering a long ball over the top of the defense to Gillcrist, who was sprinting down the left wing. Gillcrist finished the shot and the Mids were ahead in lightning-quick fashion.
“It was very exciting for our team to get out on top early,” Gabarra said. “However, scoring early is a blessing and a curse. We kind of poked the bear a little bit and gave them some energy as well.”
The Midshipmen missed a good opportunity to add to the lead midway through the first half when they put three shots on goal in rapid succession. Gillcrist, junior midfielder Victoria Tran and senior midfielder Emily Keast all tested Johnson.
New Mexico, which managed only one shot on goal in the first half, picked up the pace after intermission and maintained possession in the Navy defensive zone far better. The Lobos out-shot the Mids 11-4 in the second half.
That pressure finally paid dividends in the 71st minute when junior forward Alesa Garcia scored in transition to tie matters, 1-1.
Freshman defender Paige Satterlee got the assist after launching a long ball ahead to Garcia, who dribbled once before pounding the ball into the back of the net.
It was sweet redemption for Garcia, who had a penalty kick stopped by Navy goalie Mattie Gallagher in the 67th minute.