Navy Edges Loyola Women’s Soccer 2-1 Behind Sophia Ryan’s Two Goals
By Brian Hradsky
Maryland Sports Blog | November 7, 2026
FINAL: Navy 2, Loyola Maryland 1
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Navy Midshipmen defeated the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds 2-1 Wednesday, November 4, at Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis. Freshman Sophia Ryan scored both goals for Navy, including the game-winner in the 79th minute, helping the Midshipmen secure the top seed in the Patriot League Tournament. Loyola midfielder Betzael Contreras scored the Greyhounds’ lone goal in the first half. Despite the defeat, Loyola remained competitive against one of the conference’s strongest teams.
Navy Opens the Scoring Early
Navy wasted little time establishing its offensive presence, opening the scoring just over six minutes into the match. Ryan converted a pass from Chiara Cosenza to give the Midshipmen a 1-0 advantage. The early goal forced Loyola to respond against a Navy defense that had performed consistently throughout the season. Despite Navy controlling much of the early possession, the Greyhounds found an opportunity to equalize.
Contreras delivered the tying goal at the 18:52 mark, scoring her fourth goal of the season to make the score 1-1. Her finish gave Loyola momentum and demonstrated the team’s ability to capitalize on limited scoring chances. Navy outshot Loyola 5-1 during the opening half, but the Greyhounds entered halftime level. Loyola goalkeeper Hannah Goetzer contributed two first-half saves to keep her team within striking distance.
Ryan Scores the Game-Winner
Loyola nearly grabbed the lead shortly after halftime when Taryn Buckley placed a shot on target in the 47th minute. Navy goalkeeper Natasha Stramrood stopped the attempt, preserving the tie. The Midshipmen continued generating offensive pressure and earned six corner kicks during the second half. Loyola’s defense remained organized for much of the period despite facing repeated attacks.
The breakthrough came at 78:07 when Ryan scored her second goal of the evening, with Cosenza and Jessica Black collecting assists. The goal gave Navy a 2-1 advantage with fewer than 12 minutes remaining. Loyola earned a corner kick shortly afterward but could not produce another equalizer. Navy protected its narrow lead through the final whistle.
Match Statistics
| Category | Loyola | Navy |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 2 |
| Shots | 2 | 9 |
| Shots on goal | 2 | 4 |
| Saves | 2 | 1 |
| Corner kicks | 1 | 8 |
| Fouls | 8 | 7 |
| Possession | 41% | 59% |
Navy’s statistical advantage reflected its ability to control possession and consistently create offensive opportunities. The Midshipmen finished with nine shots compared with just two for Loyola, while also holding an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. Loyola’s defense prevented Navy from converting several additional opportunities, keeping the contest close until the closing minutes. However, the Greyhounds struggled to generate enough sustained pressure to challenge Navy’s defense consistently.
Patriot League Tournament Implications
The victory improved Navy’s record to 14-4-2 overall and 7-1-1 in Patriot League competition. The Midshipmen secured the tournament’s top seed and home-field advantage in the conference semifinals. Navy will host a semifinal matchup Wednesday, November 11, at noon. The victory also extended the Midshipmen’s unbeaten streak to eight matches.
Loyola finished the regular season with a 3-4-10 overall record and a 3-3-3 mark in Patriot League competition. The Greyhounds enter the conference tournament as the sixth seed and will travel to face third-seeded Holy Cross on Sunday, November 8. Loyola must find additional offensive production after managing only two shots against Navy. However, its ability to remain competitive against the tournament’s top seed offers encouragement entering postseason play.
MSB Take: Loyola Needs More Offensive Opportunities
Loyola deserves credit for keeping this match competitive against a Navy team that has established itself among the Patriot League’s best. Contreras delivered an important equalizer, while Goetzer and the defense kept the Greyhounds within reach throughout the evening. However, producing only two shots and one corner kick makes winning against a quality opponent extremely difficult. Loyola needs to create more attacking opportunities and maintain possession higher up the field.
Navy demonstrated why it deserves the tournament’s top seed, controlling territory and consistently creating scoring chances. Ryan’s two-goal performance highlighted the Midshipmen’s ability to turn sustained pressure into decisive moments. For Loyola, the challenge now becomes translating a competitive defensive effort into a more balanced postseason performance. Sunday’s quarterfinal against Holy Cross provides an opportunity to respond and keep the season alive.
