The Midshipmen snuck by the Loyola Greyhounds in a 10-9 victory in Annapolis.
Navy vaulted into the Inside Lacrosse Top 20 this week after sinking Patriot League favorite Loyola on Saturday. It was their its win against the Greyhounds since 1943.
The Midshipmen (4-2) snuck by the then-No. 13 Greyhounds (4-3) in a 10-9 victory in Annapolis, Maryland, and jumped from receiving votes to No. 14 in the media poll.
Second-year attack Jack Ray tucked the game-winning goal inside the far post with 38 seconds remaining.
Navy led 7-2 at halftime and survived five unanswered third-quarter goals with four coming in a two-minute span to end the period.
“They are a championship team and I knew they weren't going to go down without a fight,” Navy head coach Rick Sowell said. “It was a character test for us and it came down to making plays. It was a nice win for our program.”
ICYMI - #NavyMLax's Jack Ray scores the game-winning goal against Loyola on Saturdayhttps://t.co/ReNf4WLxHw
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) March 21, 2016
The Mids regrouped to reclaim the lead just over a minute into the final frame when the Greyhounds were slow to side and midfielder Casey Rees punched in from 15 yards away.
Loyola knotted the game three minutes later when junior attackman Zach Sirico's face dodge put Matt Rees off balance behind the cage and he shot over the shoulder of Navy keeper John Connors .
Junior Brady Dove won 13 of 22 faceoffs, becoming the Mids’ all-time faceoff wins lead with the opening draw of the third quarter.
Navy next hosts Lafayette Tuesday night.
