Late Boston University Rally Sinks Navy Women’s Soccer, 2-1, in Patriot League Opener

Navy women’s soccer appeared headed toward an important road victory in its Patriot League opener Saturday before Boston University completely changed the match over the final 18 minutes.

The Midshipmen carried a 1-0 advantage deep into the second half at Nickerson Field, but Kat Slott tied the game in the 73rd minute before Georgia Prouty delivered a crushing game-winner with only 33 seconds remaining. The 2-1 loss dropped Navy to 7-4-1 overall and 0-1 in Patriot League play, while Boston University improved to 4-5-1 and 1-0 in the conference.

It was a difficult ending for Navy after the Midshipmen had done enough defensively to withstand significant Boston University pressure for most of the afternoon. Navy goalkeeper Natasha Stramrood made seven saves, and the Midshipmen also came up with an important team save early in the contest before Chiara Cosenza gave Navy the lead.

Cosenza puts Navy in front

Boston University created pressure early, but Navy survived and then struck in the 20th minute.

Stella Jones helped create the opportunity and found Cosenza, who converted at 19:46 to put the Midshipmen ahead 1-0. It was Cosenza’s second goal of the season and Jones’ assist gave Navy an early advantage despite the Terriers generating more of the attacking pressure.

Cosenza was Navy’s most active offensive player, accounting for three of the Midshipmen’s seven total shots. Navy went into halftime protecting the 1-0 lead despite Boston University holding a 7-5 advantage in shots and generating four corner kicks.

The Midshipmen had already demonstrated throughout the season that they could protect narrow advantages. Navy entered Patriot League play after defeating Youngstown State, 1-0, in its nonconference finale, with Helen Bonner providing the deciding goal in that victory. Navy completed its nonconference schedule at 7-3-1.

Saturday, however, became a much greater defensive challenge after halftime.

Terriers take control of second half

Boston University dramatically increased its pressure over the final 45 minutes.

The Terriers attempted 17 second-half shots compared with only two for Navy. Boston University also generated six corners after halftime, forcing the Midshipmen to spend extended stretches defending their own end.

Navy continued to hold.

Stramrood made five of her seven saves in the second half and kept Boston University off the scoreboard through the opening 27 minutes after halftime. The Terriers eventually found their breakthrough at 72:45.

Olivia Avellar and Alli Powderly combined to set up Slott, who scored her fifth goal of the season and tied the match at 1-1.

Slott entered the game as one of Boston University’s primary offensive threats and had already scored in the Terriers’ 2-1 victory over Bryant in their nonconference finale. She delivered again when Boston University needed an equalizer.

The goal changed the complexion of the match.

Navy had spent more than 50 minutes protecting its one-goal advantage. Now the Midshipmen needed to withstand a Boston University team playing with considerable momentum while simultaneously attempting to generate a winning opportunity of their own.

The Terriers continued pushing forward.

Prouty delivers heartbreaking finish

The match remained tied as the clock moved inside the final minute, seemingly positioning Navy to leave Boston with at least one point in the Patriot League standings.

Prouty changed that at 89:27.

The sophomore scored an unassisted goal with only 33 seconds remaining in regulation, completing Boston University’s comeback and giving the Terriers a 2-1 advantage. Navy had virtually no time to respond.

It was Prouty’s second goal of the season and turned what had been a promising conference opener for Navy into a difficult road defeat.

Boston University finished with a decisive 24-7 advantage in shots and put nine attempts on goal compared with two for Navy. The Terriers also held a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks. Navy committed 11 fouls compared with seven for Boston University.

Those numbers illustrate just how much pressure Navy’s defense absorbed.

Stramrood faced nine shots on goal and stopped seven. Boston University goalkeeper Bridget Carr needed to make only one save, as Cosenza’s goal accounted for Navy’s other shot on target.

Stramrood keeps Navy alive

The final score will understandably focus attention on Boston University’s two late goals, but Stramrood was a major reason Navy remained ahead for as long as it did.

Boston University attempted 17 shots in the second half alone. Stramrood made five saves during that period before Slott and Prout finally broke through.

The junior goalkeeper played all 90 minutes behind a starting defensive group that included Lauren Toms, Ali Barrow, Hannah Mulholland and Bonner. Toms, Barrow and Bonner also went the full 90 minutes.

Navy used 17 players overall as head coach Carin Gabarra attempted to keep her lineup fresh against Boston University’s pressure. Sophia Ryan provided Navy’s other shot on goal off the bench, while Mackenzie Morrow also registered a shot in eight minutes of action.

Jessica Black and Jones each attempted one shot. Cosenza led Navy with three before exiting after 62 minutes.

The Midshipmen were particularly limited offensively after halftime. Navy managed only two shots over the final 45 minutes while Boston University produced 17.

That imbalance eventually became too much to overcome.

A difficult reversal from last season

The result also reversed Navy’s success against Boston University in the 2025 Patriot League opener.

Navy defeated the defending Patriot League champion Terriers in Annapolis last September. This time, the Midshipmen traveled to Boston to face a program that finished first in the 2025 Patriot League regular-season standings and was picked second in the conference’s 2026 preseason coaches poll.

Navy arrived with the stronger overall record.

The Midshipmen went 7-3-1 during nonconference play, while Boston University entered Saturday at 3-5-1. The records did not necessarily reflect the challenge Navy faced, however, particularly with the match being played at Nickerson Field.

Boston University had also entered conference play with momentum after defeating Bryant, 2-1, in its final nonconference match.

The Terriers carried that momentum into Saturday and, most importantly, maintained their attack despite trailing for more than 50 minutes.

Navy’s season remains promising

One conference loss does not erase what Navy accomplished over the first month of the season.

The Midshipmen are 7-4-1 through 12 matches and have outscored their opponents 25-13. Navy has recorded seven victories and has already demonstrated the ability to produce goals in bunches, scoring at least three goals in five games this season.

Navy also put together a five-game winning streak during nonconference competition.

The Midshipmen defeated Marywood, Maryland, Marist, Radford and VMI during that stretch, outscoring those five opponents 17-1. Navy later bounced back from a 1-0 loss at Towson by shutting out Youngstown State, 1-0, before beginning Patriot League competition.

Saturday presented a different type of test.

Navy was not controlling possession and piling up scoring chances. Instead, the Midshipmen had to defend for long stretches and attempt to protect a narrow lead against one of the Patriot League’s established programs.

They nearly succeeded.

Colgate awaits in Annapolis

Navy will have a week to regroup before playing its Patriot League home opener.

The Midshipmen host Colgate Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis. Navy then travels to Lehigh for a 6 p.m. conference matchup Wednesday, Sept. 30.

That makes the Colgate matchup particularly important to Navy’s early conference positioning. The Midshipmen now have eight Patriot League regular-season games remaining after leaving Boston without a point.

Navy has already demonstrated an ability to respond to difficult losses this season. After falling 1-0 at Towson on Sept. 10, the Midshipmen traveled to Youngstown State three days later and produced a 1-0 shutout.

A similar response would put Saturday’s late disappointment behind them quickly.

MSB Take

This one will sting because Navy was only seconds away from getting a result on the road.

Boston University controlled much of the statistical battle, particularly in the second half, but Navy found a way to lead for more than 50 minutes. Cosenza provided the early goal, Stramrood repeatedly kept the Terriers out of the net and Navy’s defense continued surviving wave after wave of pressure.

Eventually, that pressure became overwhelming.

Allowing 24 shots, 17 in the second half, made protecting a one-goal advantage extremely difficult. Slott’s equalizer was damaging, but Prouty’s winner with 33 seconds remaining turned a potential road draw into a heartbreaking conference loss.

The encouraging part for Navy is that the Midshipmen have already shown they can compete with strong opponents and rebound from setbacks. They finished nonconference play 7-3-1 and have outscored opponents 25-13 through 12 games.

Now the focus shifts to Colgate.

Navy cannot change what happened during the final 18 minutes in Boston. What the Midshipmen can control is their response when Patriot League soccer returns to Annapolis on Saturday.