ANNAPOLIS, Md.  – Despite giving up the first goal just 26 seconds into the match, American University women's soccer clawed back and scored the equalizer 15 minutes later and held on for a 1-1 draw against the Patriot League South champions, Navy, on Friday night.  
 
QUICK NOTABLES

• Emily Smith played a beautiful ball forward to Olivia Mahony, who beat her defender before slotting a goal into the bottom right corner in the 16^th minute.
• The equalizer was Mahony's first career goal and Smith's fifth career assist.
• Ryleigh Brown picked up eight saves on the night, moving her into fifth all-time in AU women's soccer history with 197 career saves. She ends her career in the top tier of AU goalies, also ranking fifth all-time in  minutes played as a keeper (3,364) and games played as a keeper (40).

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Right off the opening whistle, Navy's offense raced down the field and scored the opening goal just 26 seconds into the match. Victoria Tran picked up her third goal of the season with Chloe Dawson recording the assist.
• That initial outburst woke AU up, as the Eagles began taking control of offensive possession.
• After some other scoring chances, Mahony broke through for AU's first goal of the season in the 16^th minute.
• Smith executed an arcing pass that found Mahony in stride just outside the 18-yard box. Mahony beat the last defender before slotting the ball in the bottom right corner for the equalizer.

HIGHLIGHT | Olivia Mahony takes a beautiful feed from Emily Smith and scores the equalizer in Annapolis!

First career goal for Mahony. Fifth career assist for Smith.#AUWSOC | #BeAnEagle

?? (ESPN+) https://t.co/mqiAb9xm5K pic.twitter.com/9An4vytDq9

— American U. Women's Soccer (@AU_WSoccer) April 9, 2021

• After one half of play, both teams had put up four shots, but AU had a slight advantage in shots on goal, 3-2.
• Navy's offense was relentless in the second half, firing off 10 shots compared to just one for the Eagles in the period.
• Brown picked up five of her eight saves in that decisive second half of play.
• One particular sequence that stood out occurred in the 56^th minute, as AU's backline, primarily Asia Horne, blocked two consecutive Navy shots inside the 18-yard box before a third shot sailed high over the goal resulting in an AU goal kick.
• AU's defense continued to bend, but not break, down the stretch and got the Eagles to their first overtime period of the season after playing six such contests in the 2019 campaign.
• Brown's best save of the night came as the clock was winding down in the first overtime, as she stretched all the way out to stop a dangerous Navy chance that would have won them the game.
• The second overtime period belonged to American's offense, as the Eagles took control in their attacking third.
• Toni Williams blasted a shot in the 106^th minute, but AU couldn't clean up off the ricochet and the final scored ended in a 1-1 tie.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Navy picked up two yellow cards, compared to one booking for AU.
• The offensive pace of the Mids showed up in the box score, racking up a 19-7 advantage in shots and a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.
• Smith collected her 11^th career point with her first-half assist. The junior leads all active AU players in the category.

WHAT HEAD COACH MARSHA HARPER SAID

On her team's performance against the best team in the division

• "We did face a really tough opponent that's historically very good, and they showcased that tonight. I was very proud of our team and how we came out and played a complete game, defensively and offensively. I think the girls were tuned in mentally on a different level. It was exciting to finally see the girls put together everything that we had been talking about and connecting that going forward in tonight's game. We made a statement tonight to the rest of the league that this was just a sampling of what we have to offer."

On using tonight's game to build momentum into the fall season

• "I think myself, Katie [Greenberg], and the rest of the team have been able to use this [season] as a learning process, and as a springboard, absolutely. We've been able to teach the team our system and how the system can operate in different ways in different games. I'm really proud of how our team evolved. We talk a lot about soccer, and how we can get better as soccer players. But also, as individuals. It's more than soccer for me, and the reason I got into coaching was to have our players see that lightbulb come on. I think a lot of our players have started to realize that they have really strong lightbulbs."

On the sideline's reaction to Olivia Mahony's equalizer

• "I almost didn't know what to do with myself. But the girls were jumping up and down, I'm pretty sure they were on the field. Very excited, to say the least."

WHAT SENIOR RYLEIGH BROWN SAID

On getting a point against a tough opponent in the season finale

• "It's a really great feeling. Obviously, a win would have felt even better, but just the upward trend from the start of the season until tying Navy today. It's a really great highlight for me to end my career on that and I'm just super proud of this team. Great things are to come."

On the end of her career being bittersweet

• "After doing four years at AU, I just wish I had more time. I wish I had more time with this coaching staff. I'm super envious of the girls that do. I have so many amazing memories with this team and they're my family now. I'm so excited for them and they're going places."

On etching her name into the record books

• "That's an absolute honor. Some of the goalkeepers in that stat book are incredible players and being a part of that is such a privilege. The fact that I was able to do it, even with losing pretty much a whole season, is really exciting and I'm just very humbled."

UP NEXT

• Despite picking up a point in the divisional standings on Friday night, AU did not qualify for the four-team Patriot League Tournament this season.

VIRTUALLY "PHIL" REEVES FIELD PRESENTED BY GEICO

• Although the season is complete, you can still support AU Women's Soccer by contributing to the virtual ticket campaign. This season-long initiative, presented by "TEAM AU" partner GEICO, will challenge Eagles fans and alumni to virtually sell out each seat at Reeves Field for the 2021 women's soccer campaign. The "AU Founder" ticket price of $18.93 commemorates the year AU was founded. Click here to support AU Athletics by buying virtual tickets.

KEEP UP WITH US

• For the latest on American University Women's Soccer, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_WSoccer), Facebook (AU.WSoccer) and Instagram (@au_wsoccer).