ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In an offensive outburst, which was led by junior forward Clare MacAdam’s two goals, the Navy women’s soccer team defeated Maryland, 5-3, Wednesday night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. It was the first time in 11 tries that the Mids were able to take down in-state rival Maryland.

“This was a great win for our program, especially against a good program like Maryland,” Navy head coach Carin Gabarra said about defeating the Terrapins for the first time in program history. “We were able to do a lot of good things on offense and were able to keep up that pressure for the entire 90 minutes.”

MacAdam, who had scored in the previous four matches this season, continued her hot streak against the Terrapins, tallying her 23^rd and 24^th career goals. Her 24 career goals tied her for ninth all-time in program history with Carissa Youker (Class of ’11).

“My focus this year has been much better, both as a teammate and as an individual,” MacAdam said about her early success on offense. “Our team chemistry continues to get better game after game and I think our potential on offense can only improve from here on out.”

Navy (2-4-1) took advantage of its offensive chances early in the contest and grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the 12^th minute. After earning a corner kick, junior Megan Rogers (Orange Park, Fla.) swung in the corner kick right in front of the net for the ball to bounce loose in the six-yard box. Freshman Alex Jackson (Centennial, Colo.) was able to fight through the scrum for the ball and poked in her first collegiate goal.

Continuing their pressure, the Mids found themselves inside the Maryland defensive third in the 33^rd minute. Freshman Cadie Higginson (New Orleans, La.) was able to dispossess a Maryland defender on the near sideline and pass to the middle of the field for MacAdam. MacAdam, who was given room from 30 yards out, sent a curling shot to the far post and beat Maryland goalkeeper Rachel Egyed to add to Navy’s lead, 2-0.

Less than nine minutes later, Navy generated its third offensive opportunity. Senior Rachel Feldman (Danville, Calif.) dribbled into the 18-yard box and was taken down by a Maryland defender to receive a penalty kick chance. Feldman lined up her shot and rifled it underneath the crossbar for her first of the season to give the Mids a 3-0 lead.

Navy, who had scored a total of three goals in the previous 10 matches against Maryland, had tied its entire offensive output against the Terrapins in just 45 minutes.

Maryland responded early in the second half as Kate Winters finished with a well-struck goal off a pass from teammate Jarena Harmon in the 56^th minute to cut the deficit to two, 3-1.

Higginson joined in on Navy’s offensive scoring parade in the 75^th minute. With the Mids attacking inside the box, sophomore Eleanor Pratt (New Orleans, La.), from near the end line, sent her shot right at Maryland goalkeeper Katelyn Jensen, who blocked the shot back into play. Higginson came charging in for the rebound and redirected into the back of the net for her fourth of the season to bring Navy’s lead back up to three, 4-1.

A minute later, the Terrapins earned a free kick just outside Navy’s 18-yard box. Off the free kick, Navy goalkeeper Dayton Wetherby (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) made a diving save, but Maryland’s Jarena Harmon was there to possess the rebound and tally her fifth of the season to cut the deficit back to two, 4-2, in the 76^th minute.

Navy’s offensive pressure did not stop as junior Liza Harris (Baltimore, Md.) sent a high pass from the Mids’ defensive third all the way to the Terrapins’ defensive third in the 82^nd minute. With sophomore Ash Fairow (Jacksonville, N.C.) giving chase, a Maryland defender looked to pass back to Jensen, but Fairow was able to speed up an intercept the pass. Fairow dribbled across the 18-yard box and deked out Jensen, but Jensen swiped at Fairow’s feet and tripped up the Navy forward to create a penalty kick. With Fairow shaken up on the fall, MacAdam was given the honors and hit home her second of the night to bring Navy’s lead back to three, 5-2.

Maryland however regained its composure and tallied its third of the night from Chelsea Jackson in the 86^th minute. The Terrapins began the sequence with two shots on net, both of which were denied by Wetherby, before Jackson came in and snuck her shot to the near post to cut the deficit to two, 5-3.

Navy held advantages over Maryland in shots, 17-15, shots on goal, 11-10 and corner kicks, 5-3.

Wetherby held strong in net for Navy, recording seven saves on 10 chances to improve to 2-4-1.

The Mids tallied their second positive result in the all-time series against the Terrapins in Annapolis, having earned a 1-1 tie on September 8, 2014 at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.

Navy will continue its four-match homestand with the Navy Invitational this weekend. The Mids will face Drake on Friday (7 PM) and then host Bowling Green on Sunday (2:30 PM). Both matches will be streamed live and for free on PatriotLeague.TV.

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