BALTIMORE –
Georgia Latch's goal less than 90 seconds into overtime gave seventh-ranked Loyola University Maryland a 12-11 win over No. 20 Navy, secured the Greyhounds eighth Patriot League Championships title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.
The Greyhounds will learn when, who and where they will play in NCAA action during Women's Lacrosse Selection Show on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 5.
Latch picked up the draw control to start overtime and was fouled while running down the near sideline before she got into the box.
The foul sent a Navy player to the sideline with a green card, putting Loyola on a player advantage for a minute, but the Midshipmen's zone held the Greyhounds without a shot. Latch ran on an extended dodge around the right side before firing an overhand shot that was deflected before it went into the goal for the winning tally.
Loyola has now won eight of 10 contested Patriot League Championships since its first year in the conference (2014). It will be the Greyhounds' sixth-straight bit to the NCAA Championships and their 25
th overall.
Navy (15-4 overall) took a 9-8 lead into the fourth quarter after Emma Kennedy scored on a Tori DiCarlo assist with 54 seconds left in the third quarter. Loyola came out quickly, however, in the third, scoring the frame's first three goals.
Sydni Black, who was named the Patriot League Championships Most Valuable Player, tallied an unassisted goal at 10:11, and she then picked up the draw control and scored again 12 seconds later to put Loyola in front, 10-9.
Chase Boyle added a goal at 7:46, and Loyola led by two.
Black and Boyle both finished with four goals and an assist on Saturday in the title game. Black had nine goals and three assists total in the Championships after a five-goal, two-assist outing on Thursday afternoon in Loyola's 18-0 win over Lehigh University. Boyle had a pair of goals against the Mountain Hawks for six total in the tournament.
Black, Boyle,
Lily Osborne and
Lauren Spence were all named to the All-Tournament Team for Loyola.
After Boyle's fourth-quarter goal, Navy had an answer in the form of Emily Messinese. She scored twice, first at 6:34 and then at 2:41 to even the game at 11-11.
Navy had possession after the second goal, and the Midshipmen took two shots, the second of which was saved by Spence. Loyola was on offense for almost a minute to end regulation, but a turnover thwarted that possession and the game went to overtime.
Loyola led 2-0 in the game's early going behind a pair of goals assisted by Latch. Boyle scored the first, and
Avery Ruhnke added the second at 11:08, but Navy came back to score three in a row and lead, 3-2, on a Kat McAteer strike with 1:45 to play in the stanza.
Boyle came back to take an
Anna Ruby pass and score with 79 seconds to go in the quarter. McAteer put Navy back up less than three minutes into the second, but three-straight Loyola goals – Black bookended a Ruby tally – made it 6-4 Greyhounds.
Navy had the last say in the first half with goals by Messinese and Kennedy to tie the score at 6-6 going into the locker room.
Regan Kielmeyer and Boyle had goals to open the second half with Boyle's at 10:55 putting Loyola up a pair. Navy came back with goals by Messinese and Mikayla Williams to tie the game at 8-8, and Kennedy's second of the day made it a one-goal Midshipmen lead with 54 seconds left in the third.
Spenc finished with nine saves for the Greyhounds, and Loyola's defense had seven caused turnovers amongst Navy's 13 giveaways.
Logan Olmstead had three caused turnovers, and Boyle had two, while Osborne and
Catie Corolla each had one.
Boyle had a team-high five draw controls for Loyola, while Black added four and Latch picked up three.
