Colgate came into its Patriot League semifinal match with Navy hoping to exact revenge for tits 1-0 defeat in the final game of the regular season. The Raiders headed to Annapolis last Friday just two victories from an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. However, for the second consecutive match, the Midshipmen proved just a little too strong for the Raiders. A Kate Herren goal six minutes into the first overtime period was enough to give Navy another 1-0 victory and propelled them to the Patriot League final.

This match was always going to be a cagey affair, and outside of a fantastic Colgate chance early on, lived up to its expectations. Colgate first-year midfielder Danielle Wessler put a shot on goal four minutes in, only to have the ball cleared off the goal line by the Navy defense. The match was very back and forth after that, with both teams forcing the opposing goalkeeper into action numerous times. The first half was controlled mostly by the Midshipmen, with Navy outshooting Colgate, 8-3. The second half was a slightly different story, as Colgate held a 7-2 advantage in shots. Despite solid chances at the end of regulation by Colgate’s Jillian Arnault and Liz Polido, the match remained scoreless heading into the overtime period.

Navy came out flying from the whistle, and always looked the more likely to score. In just six minutes, they had four shots, forcing two saves from Colgate’s first-year goalkeeper Rebecca Michlin. Eventually, though, the wall broke. Five minutes and 52 seconds in, Navy senior Kristen Laraway broke through on goal, and her effort was saved by Michlin. In the unluckiest of bounces, however, the save caromed off the post, right to the feet of the first-year Herren, who slotted home the rebound into an open goal, giving Navy a dramatic overtime win.

The win gave Navy a spot in the Patriot League final against archrivals Army. In a fitting twist of fate, the Midshipmen were defeated in heartbreaking fashion, with Army scoring the game-winning goal, in a 1-0 match, in double overtime, to clinch the conference title.

Colgate finishes the season 7-11-1, with a 4-3-0 record in the Patriot League. Under the steady hand of Head Coach Kathy Brawn, the Raiders will undoubtedly be challenging for the conference title again next season when they get players that missed all of this season due to injury.