Army Outlasts Navy in Double OT; Moves on to Semis

Tuesday, October 30

Annapolis, MD.

7 PM

Army West Point

7-5-7

Navy (Quarterfinals)

11-6-3

OT 3

OT 4

ARMY

NAVY

Army Outlasts Navy in Double OT; Moves on to Semis

October 30, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Annapolis, Md. – The Army West Point women's soccer team put together its most complete performance of the season in the Patriot League Quarterfinals and is moving on with a 1-0 double-overtime victory over service-academy rival Navy on Tuesday evening.

Sophomore Erynn Johns netted the game winner in the 102nd minute after senior captain Sydney Witham sent a free kick into the middle of the box. The Austin, Texas, native corralled the bouncing ball and fired a shot that escaped the outstretched arm of Sydney Fortson.

The sixth-seeded Black Knights controlled play for much of the game and outshot the third-seeded Mids, 13-7, including a 5-3 edge in shots on goal. Army also led in corner kicks, 7-2. Johns paced the visitors with four shots and three on goal, while seniors Kayleigh Stallings and Sarah Chamberlin managed two shots each. Sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Cassalia, who recently earned All-Patriot League Second Team honors, posted her 10th shutout of the season with a three-save effort.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half

The Black Knights possessed the ball well throughout the first 45 minutes of the game, earning a 6-3 advantage in shots.
Navy's lone chance of the opening period came in the 14th minute when a shot by Eleanor Pratt forced Cassalia to dive to her right to keep the game scoreless.

Second Half

The home side came out more aggressively to start the second half as Cadie Higginson created a pair of shots inside the box, including one on target in the first four minutes.
Army generated one of its best chances of the game when Emily Torres got on the end of a Witham corner in the 52nd minute and headed a shot toward the back post. With little time to react, Navy's Basley McClaskey shimmied along the goal line and used her body to nullify the chance.
Johns looked to break the scoreless draw in the 78th minute with a shot from 30 yards out, but the Navy keeper made the save.

Overtime

A free kick from Witham in the 102nd minute sailed into the middle of the box. The ball glanced off a Navy defender and landed at Johns' feet, allowing the second-year forward to boot the ball past a diving Fortson and send the Black Knights to the Patriot League Semifinals.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

The Black Knights snapped a four-game unbeaten streak against the Mids with their first win over Navy since 2013.
Army earned its first win in the Patriot League Tournament since the 2011 title game.
Army has won each of its last three postseason meetings with the Mids.
It was the Cadets' first league tournament win in Annapolis since a 1-0 double-overtime victory in the 2008 championship game.
The Black Knights halted a 22-game winless streak in matches that went to double overtime.
This was Army's fifth Patriot League Quarterfinal match and first win in the opening round.
Army improved to 15-20-3 all-time in the postseason and 13-14-3 in the Patriot League Tournament.
Army's seventh win of the season marked its most in a season since 2014.
The Black Knights are now 5-3-3 on the road in 2018, its most road wins since 2010.
Head coach Adrian Blewitt notched his first win over Navy.
Johns netted her third goal of the season, all of which have been game-deciding tallies.
The Austin, Texas, native boasts a team-high 11 points, becoming the first Army player with double-digit points since Clare Shea in 2016.
Witham dished out her third assist of the season and fourth of her career.
Cassalia documented her 10th shutout of the season, becoming the seventh Army goalkeeper to reach the milestone in a single season.
The Omaha, Neb., native has the most shutouts in a season since Monica Lee's program-record of 15 in 2011.
With the shutout, Cassalia became the third goalie in program history to record at least 10 shutouts and 100 saves in the same season, joining Monica Lee (2011: 15 shutouts/108 saves) and Mary Kidd (1996: 11 shutouts/139 saves).