ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A trio of second half goals was not enough to propel the comeback as the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team fell to Navy in its first road game of the season, 5-3. 
 
With the elements playing a factor in last week's contest, the brutal August sun played a factor in the game's early going as the home side used a blistering start to pull ahead within the opening five minutes. On a counterattack, the Midshipmen found space along the left side which Alexa Riddle took advantage of, playing a left-footed cross into the box that found the head of Marlee Heaven who slotted it between SHU goalkeeper Kyran Thievon and the left post to put the Navy up 1-0. 
 
The Pioneers, however, controlled the pace of play for a majority of the next quarter hour, punishing the Midshipmen along the flanks with speed but could not find the elusive service necessary to create danger in the penalty area. Nearing the 20^th minute, forward Shea Kelleher had an opportunity to equalize with a looping right-footed strike that clanked off the crossbar and nearly across the goal line but stayed out, keeping the Pios off the board. 
 
Against the run of play, Navy capitalized in quick succession off two defensive miscues to bring the lead up to three within the first 25 minutes of action. Riddle collected her second assist of the afternoon after a SHU defensive miscue allowed the ball into her path before playing a through ball to Chiara Cosenza who slotted it past Thievon who came out to challenge the forward. Nearly a minute later, Riddle slotted home a free kick opportunity that beat the SHU wall to put Navy up 3-0. 
 
The Pios continued to battle through the remaining 20 minutes of the first half and had a few chances that nearly tested the Navy keeper but could not find their way on target as the hosts went into the break with the three-goal lead. 
 
Following the halftime break, the Pioneers found new life in the attacking third, keeping the Midshipmen on their heels before finding the back of the net eight minutes into the second half with Morgan Bovardi's first tally of the season. After a failed Navy free kick attempt, the Pios jumped quickly on the unsuspecting Midshipmen as Lyndsey Laperle sprung Grace O'Hara forward with a long ball along the left flank. O'Hara collected the pass and with a looping cross sent an eager chance into the penalty area that Bovardi slotted into the netting to put SHU on the board. 
 
However, much like the first half, the Mids quickly pounced on the Pios newfound momentum, killing it with two quick strikes just five minutes later. With a corner kick by the SHU sideline, Navy's Amanda Graziano sent a looping ball in that beat the SHU defense before finding the head of Rylee Rives who deposited the ball into the net to put the Mids back up by three. Just 67 seconds later, a defensive miscue by SHU allowed the Mids to push the lead to four just under the hour mark. 
 
The Red & White, albeit down, did not give up without a fight, finding success on the counterattack to cut into the deficit. Just past the 70^th minute, first year Marina Parodo went screaming down the left side with possession before sending the ball into the penalty area where Laperle was eagerly waiting, tapping the ball into the back of the net with her left foot for her first collegiate goal. 
 
Later in the 78^th minute, the Pios continued barraging the Mids in the attacking third with first year Rylee McGee being brought down in the penalty area, forcing the referee to award the spot kick. Calmly, McGee slotted a thunderous right-footed shot into the top left corner past the Navy goalkeeper for her first college goal in just her second appearance. 
 
SHU continued to battle into the waning stages of the late afternoon, but the Midshipmen closed the door on any thought of a comeback as the Pios fell, 5-3. 
 
Top Performers: 

• Lyndsey Laperle: 1 goal, 1 assist
• Morgan Bovardi: 1 goal, 3 shots
• Rylee McGee: 1 goal, 1 shot
• Marina Parodo: 1 assist, 1 shot
• Grace O'Hara: 1 assist

 
Of Note: 

• Laperle earned a new single-game high in points (3) with her first collegiate goal and second career assist during the match. Laperle had tallied one point in her first season with SHU, earning one assist.
• Bovardi's goal was her first since tallying against Le Moyne in what was a 2-0 victory for the Pios in the regular season finale. 
• McGee's tally is her first collegiate goal and point. The goal, which came from the penalty spot, was the first penalty kick goal for the Pioneers since Marian Nolan converted a penalty in a 4-0 win over Stonehill last season. 
• Pioneers Emily Hood, and Gabriella Baiada made their season debuts in the match while Marina Parodo made her collegiate debut. 

 
Up Next:
The Pioneers wrap up their weekend in the Chesapeake Bay area with a matinee matchup against the Georgetown Hoyas on Sunday, August 24. Kickoff from Shaw Field is slated for 1 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.