Singing second into the Semis: Pohlidal's late winner against Navy advances Women's Soccer in PL Tournament

By Army Athletic Communications Date: Monday, Nov 04, 2024 Time: 22:32 EST
Third-seeded Army West Point Women's Soccer (12-5-1, 5-3-1 PL) shut out Navy (9-10-2, 3-4-2 PL) for the second time this season in the Patriot League Championship quarterfinal matchup Nov. 3 from Malek Stadium. (Photo by Army Athletic Communications)

WEST POINT, NY - Third-seeded Army West Point Women's Soccer (12-5-1, 5-3-1 PL) shut out Navy (9-10-2, 3-4-2 PL) for the second time this season in the Patriot League Championship quarterfinal matchup Nov. 3 from Malek Stadium.

Hannah Pohlidal scored the game-winning goal with six minutes remaining to send the Black Knights into the Patriot League semifinals with a 1-0 win. Army will travel to No. 2 Boston University on Nov. 7 with kickoff set for 6 p.m. for a spot in the Patriot League championship game.

Both sides settled into the game early, with Navy controlling possession in the opening minutes before Army took control for the remainder of the half. Sage Strohman, who logged her eighth shutout of the season after receiving the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year award, was called into action to make a save in the 21st minute on an Alexa Riddle break.

Army finished the half with a surge as Natasha Stramrood was tested to make three quality saves in the final two minutes of the half on a trio of great efforts from Elizabeth OberhausKaelan Bradley and Brigid Duffy in the half's closing seconds. The teams went into halftime with the scoreline knotted at zero.

The Midshipmen had a prime opportunity to break open the scoring in the 55th minute, as Riddle got free on a breakaway but a charging Strohman forced the shot just wide, off of the right post, to keep the game on level terms.

Army continued to apply pressure, getting shot after shot and corner after corner. Army's 10 corner kicks in the game were its second most on the season, with the high being 11 in the regular season matchup with the Mids.

The 10th corner was forced from a Cami Silvestro shot, which was saved off of the crossbar, as Silvestro then whipped in a cross to the near post which found the head of Hannah Pohlidal for the game-winning goal. Pohlidal has now scored all three goals in her career in the past four games after going three-plus years without scoring a goal. The assist for Silvestro marked her seventh of the season.

The win marked the second time in program history (1997 season) in which Army has defeated Navy twice in the same season.

Army will return to Boston University for the second time in as many weeks to take on the Terriers at 6 p.m. on Nov. 7 for a semifinal matchup. A win would advance Army into its third straight Patriot League championship game for the first time since appearing in four straight from 1991-94.