Holder Nets Two in 2-2 Draw Versus Navy

Friday, September 18

West Point, N.Y.

7 PM

Army West Point

2-5-1, 0-0-1Patriot

Navy

4-4-1, 0-0-1Patriot

OT 3

OT 4

Navy

Army West Point

Holder Nets Two in 2-2 Draw Versus Navy

September 18, 2015 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Katie Holder scored twice as the Army West Point women's soccer team played Navy to a 2-2 draw in the Patriot League opener for both teams on Friday evening at Clinton Field.

The result moves Army 2-5-1 overall and 0-0-1 in the conference, while Navy leaves with a 4-4-1 record and a 0-0-1 Patriot League mark.

"First off, I want to say thank you to the crowd," head coach Marcia McDermott said. "We had a tremendous crowd here tonight and the support from the cadets and the community really makes a difference for us and we appreciate it.

"I thought we started the game really well and we played very well for a great amount of the game. There are some things we have to do better and it is disappointing not to get the result, but there is a lot to build on, we got a point in the Patriot League, and we need to use that and look forward."

The first 15 minutes of the match were played inside Navy territory as the Black Knights controlled the tempo from the referee's opening whistle. Sophomore Clare Shea had a volley cleared off Navy's goal line a minute in, and later, Holder had a shot from 18 yards away snared by Navy keeper Dayton Wetherby, who was busy throughout the night.

Navy's first scoring chance came in the 16th minute, but Meghan Hegarty's one-timer sailed over the bar.

The Black Knights continued to maintain the pressure and almost took the lead in the 21st minute. Holder gained the end line and fed a low cross through the Navy penalty area for Shea, who unleashed a right-footed blast that skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Wetherby kept the match scoreless a half hour in when Candace Stewart, who entered as a substitute moments prior, nearly picked out the far side with a right-footed attempt from 16 yards out. The chance was the result of a pass from Holder that Stewart turned into a scoring opportunity with a nifty spin past a Navy defender.

Stewart continued to make her presence felt and her run down the right side set up Holder's second goal of the season. The senior forward beat her defender and sent a pass across the top of the 18-yard box toward Sam Gottlieb. The ball was deflected off a couple of bodies before bouncing out to the incoming Holder, who fired it high and to the left of a diving Wetherby.

Five minutes later, Army nearly doubled the lead with a pair of chances. Stewart poked a ball around a defender, but her shot was kept out by Wetherby coming off her line aggressively. The resulting corner kick from Hanna Rozzi was headed by Pam Wishart toward the near post and cleared away again by Navy's defense.
Army took a 1-0 lead into halftime after outshooting the Mids 10-2 in the period.

Early in the second half, Navy earned a free kick deep in the Army defensive end and capitalized on the set piece to tie the game. Eleanor Pratt sent the service into the middle of the penalty area where Lexi Ricketts headed it on goal. The header deflected off a body in front and found its way into the back of the net to level the score at a goal apiece.

It was tied for less than 10 minutes before Holder put the Cadets in front for the second time. Jade Jamison split two Navy defenders on the right side and sent a cross toward the far post where Holder's header beat Wetherby across the face of goal. Her second marker of the night went in the scoresheet at 56:09 compliments of Jamison's first-career assist.

"We got a lot of help off our bench tonight," McDermott added. "Both Candace and Jade both brought a real attacking mentality to the game and they were very instrumental in both of our goals. Madison McGinn was very good as well and everyone who came off the bench was helpful."

Navy erased the deficit when Clare MacAdam finished a brilliant individual effort from 30 yards out. Rachel Feldman sent a pass across the middle where MacAdam ran around and launched a right-footed strike that sailed past Jordan Cassalia and tied the score at 2-2 with less than 10 minutes to play in regulation. Cassalia finished with five saves and Wetherby totaled 10 on the other end.

Each offense was unable to break the deadlock after MacAdam's equalizer and both earned a point in the Patriot League standings. Navy controlled the action in the first overtime and the final shots tally ended up 18-12 in favor of the Black Knights. Army also secured a 9-7 edge in corner kicks.

"I am extremely proud of the way we played today," Holder said. "Stepping on the field with this group of girls is fantastic. It just didn't work out in our favor and in the end we came away with the tie. We are going to take momentum from this game, go into Columbia on Sunday and go from there."

Army's next game is on Sunday afternoon when it travels to New York City to face Columbia. Game time is set for 1 p.m. and live stats for the match are available at gocolumbialions.com.

Game Notes: Navy leads the all-time series with Army 13-11-3 … The result snapped Army's four-game losing streak … Army moved to 2-1-1 at home in 2015 … the Black Knights have outscored their opponents 8-6 at home this season … Holder leads the team with three goals and now has 14 for her career.