Box Score WASHINGTON – Clare MacAdam and Natalie Dzhandzhapanyan scored in the first 14 minutes and Navy went on to earn a 2-0 victory over American University in a Patriot League women's soccer match Wednesday at Reeves Field.
The Eagles fell to 4-10-2 overall and 1-4-2 in the league, while the Midshipmen remained unbeaten in league play at 3-0-4 and improved to 9-4-4 overall.
AU held Navy off the scoreboard over the final 75 minutes, but failed to convert any of their 10 shots. The Midshipmen recorded their fourth shutout in the last five matches in keeping the Eagles off the scoreboard.
"We just came out kind of slow," said AU head coach Anabel Hering. "Navy is a good side, obviously, because they're undefeated in the league.
"Our movement off the ball wasn't what we needed it to be in order to get any attacks going. We had a lot of good individual efforts and we kept the ball a little better in the second half.
"But we still have to figure out how to play better in the attacking third and generate some chances."
American had its best chance of the first half when
Audrey Denkler went on a long run to set up a shot that rolled just inches outside the right post.
The Eagles had
Kelly Donovan take a long pass in the middle with 17 minutes left, but her shot was saved by Navy keeper Dayton Wetherby for the last of her three saves in the game.
MacAdam opened the scoring just 4:16 into the match. She was awarded a free kick 30 yards from the goal in front of the box. After touches on the free kick by Courtney Hook and Lizzy Rullan, MacAdam blasted a shot into the top-right corner of the net.
The Midshipmen scored again with 13:24 off the first-half clock. Meghan Hegarty got the ball in the box and found Dzhandzhapanyan on the left wing and she rolled the successful shot just inside the left post.
Navy finished the first half with a 12-5 edge in shots, but a 7-1 advantage in shots on goal. AU keeper
Charlene Belanger made five saves before halftime.
The Midshipmen, whose last loss came on Sept. 11 and who are unbeaten in their last 10 outings, finished the match with a 19-10 edge in shots, with Belanger tying her season-high with seven saves.
American travels to Holy Cross on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. before returning home for its regular-season finale on Oct. 30 against Lehigh at 3 p.m.
