One year after getting embarrassed by Georgetown on its home field, the Navy men's lacrosse team hit another wall yesterday against the visiting Hoyas, and the Midshipmen once again have begun their regular-season stretch run with a stumble.
Hampered by an offense that had trouble shooting straight, and schooled by a Georgetown offense that came alive with sharp cuts, good passing and efficient shooting in a pivotal third quarter, No. 6 Navy suffered a 9-5 defeat to the No. 5 Hoyas before 5,102 at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.
This was not the way the Midshipmen (7-2) wanted to make a statement, as Navy rolled into the meat of its schedule after controlling most of the Patriot League with ease. The Mids, who travel to No. 3 Maryland on Friday, did not look as listless as in last year's 11-6 drubbing by Georgetown. But Navy's 5-for-40 shooting, punctuated by a 2-for-8 flop in its extra-man game and an assortment of dropped and ill-advised passes, made for a painful afternoon.
Georgetown (6-1) beat Navy for the fourth time in five tries and played its physical brand of lacrosse by drawing nine penalties, including six in a rough-and-tumble first half. Then, with a combination of well-executed plays and a good transition game, the Hoyas rolled over the Mids for five third-quarter goals to take an 8-3 lead into the fourth quarter.
Sophomore attackman Andrew Baird led Georgetown with three goals, each of them assisted. His hat trick came on consecutive goals that bridged the third and fourth quarters. Baird's final goal came with 9:32 left in the contest, and it gave the Hoyas a 9-3 advantage. It is the most goals allowed by Navy this season.
Rich D'Andrea, a fifth-year senior, took care of business for Georgetown at the other end by making 11 saves, although Navy made his job somewhat easy by hitting him numerous times in the stick and body from in close. D'Andrea, a former starter in goal who had moved to defensive midfield, replaced the injured Miles Kass, who hurt his knee late in a blowout against Mount St. Mary's and aggravated the injury in practice last week.
"It's frustrating for everybody. I think we're playing well offensively, if you look at the scheme," Navy coach Richie Meade said. "We're generating shots. We're getting the ball inside. They're just not going in. I thought their goalie played pretty well today. But it seemed like we were hitting him right in the middle of the chest."
