The history of NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse dates back about 45 years. And what the U.S. Naval Academy accomplished in the last 45 hours may never have been done before.
To wit: Navy erased a four-goal deficit against Massachusetts to win last Friday, and this afternoon, erased a six-goal Syracuse lead to win in overtime.
Having covered enough collegiate women’s lacrosse over the years, I’ve gotten to understand that a five-goal deficit is nothing. Heck, in what we call “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” the 2001 Division I final, Georgetown stormed back from an 8-1 deficit to eventually send the game to extra time. Nine years later, Maryland overturned a six-goal deficit against Northwestern to win by two.
But both of these comebacks were a singular performance. Navy made its comebacks twice in one weekend.
Today, especially, Navy relied on sophomore attacker Alyssa Chung, who used her power and presence to score four goals, all after the 42nd minute. She helped spur the seven-goal run starting wtih a power-play goal, then stuck in some firecrackers in the 50th and 54th minutes, leading up to the game-winner 1:44 into overtime.
On the play, Chung was able to get her hands free at the right elbow, and slammed the netting hard, making the anchoring of the net to the goal frame create an audible ping as the crowd at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium erupt.
It’s a sound you don’t hear unless you hit the post. Or if you are hitting the net with focused force and physicality. Which is what the sophomore did.
Can this ride continue? Well, the Mids make the 20-mile trek west into College Park, Md. next Thursday for an evening confrontation. Of the four quarterfinals on the women’s Division I side, this one is, by far, the most interesting.