BALTIMORE – Kaleigh Gallagher scored her first collegiate goal in the 85^th minute, and Hannah Hoefs put a dangerous touch on a long service in the final seconds, but the U.S. Naval Academy defeated Loyola University Maryland, 2-1, Friday night in Patriot League women's soccer action.
 
Alex Jackson's second goal of the game in the 81^st minute put the Midshipmen (5-3-3 overall, 2-0-0 Patriot League) in front by two, but Gallagher struck Hoefs corner kick in the 85^th minute and the ball deflected off a Navy defender before crossing the line, pulling the Greyhounds within a goal.
 
Loyola continued to press for the equalizer, and Hoefs nearly tallied it with less than five seconds left. A long service came her way at the top of the box, and she flipped it to the right post where Midshipmen goalkeeper Sydney Forston made a diving stop to corrall it from harm.
 
"The team showed so much heart tonight, battling to get a goal back at the end and nearly getting a second in the waning seconds," said Head Coach Naomi Meiburger. "I am proud of how they fought against a very good defensive side in Navy. We put them under a lot of pressure, and I feel if we continue to do this, the team is going to start seeing some results from its hard work.
  "We really have the gauntlet of games here to start Patriot League with three teams picked to finish in the top four to start out, and we have played each team toe to toe so far. This program has really come a long way and other than the result I am proud of the on-field progress we have made. We have some things to sharpen up again before we hit the road to play Bucknell and I know the team will respond."
 
Forston made three saves, all coming in key moments. In the final minute of the first half, Loyola drew a penalty steps outside of the 18, and Hoefs put a strike over the Navy wall but Forston leapt to turn it away.
 
She had another save on a Hoefs shot in the 56^th minute and the last-second stop to seal the win.
 
Navy got the first goal on the board in the with just under 13 minutes to go in the first half off a long free kick by Baseley McClaskey. She served it into the box where Karli Sottung was to nod it forward. Jackson finished from inside eight yards, sending the teams to the locker room at halftime with Navy in front, 1-0.
 
Jackson scored off another Navy set-piece in the 81^st minute to add what would be a needed insurance goal. McClaskey's drove a low corner kick into the box where Molly Gilcrist flicked it to Jackson, and she had room from seven yards out to score.
 
Loyola finished with an 8-7 advantage in total shots and a 6-2 lead in corner kicks.

The Greyhounds will head on the road for their first Patriot League test away from Ridley Atheltic Complex. They will face Bucknell University on Wednesday, September 26, in a 7 p.m. match.