For the AU women's soccer team, the non-conference schedule was brutal.
It had been shut out three times and lost two matches in overtime. The Eagles had been on the friendly side of a final score just three times.
But Friday at Reeves Field, their luck may have turned, and it could not have been at a better time.
AU (4-7, 1-0 Patriot League) dashed Navy, 2-0, to win its PL opener to elevate the team after its worst start since 2002.
Last year's team was 9-1-1 at this point. But this year's squad got a victory when it matters most: at the start of PL play against Navy (7-2-2, 0-1-1), which owned the second-best record in the conference heading into the match.
"We stepped up to a massive challenge today and answered a lot of questions that were floating around in our psyche," AU coach Mike Brady said in a statement. "The answer was a resoundingly positive one."
The response also came quickly. The Eagles got their fastest goal of the season when freshman midfielder Lindsey Miller capitalized on a one-on-one look at the Navy goalkeeper in the sixth minute. The freshman's first career goal came off a pass from senior defender Lena Winkler.
In the second half, AU earned its first penalty kick this season when Navy's Elise McCaskey was charged with a hand ball on an Eagles corner kick. Junior midfielder Jana Lee kicked the insurance goal low to the corner to seal the match.
But while AU finally got a break in the win column, there was no such relief from the health problems that have plagued the squad all year. Senior midfielder Marcela Ricupero suffered a knee injury in the first half.
"Of course it's a big win for us," Brady said, "but we are absolutely devastated that Marcela went down with an injury."
Sophomore defender Irene Karistinos has also been out with a knee injury sustained against Iona on Sept. 11.
But defense was in AU's favor on a day when it had to endure a barage of Navy chances. The Midshipmen held an 18-14 advantage in shots, firing 10 of them in the second half.
Midfielder Molly Burd had one of Navy's best chances early in the second half when she took a shot right on the goal mouth that missed high.
Forward Meggie Curran, Navy's top scorer, hammered four shots on goal - including two off breakaways - but was stymied each time by AU goalkeeper, junior Alison Doyle.
Doyle managed 12 saves in the fifth shutout of her career and second against Navy.
The Eagles continue their attempt at a second-half hot streak Friday at home vs. Holy Cross. Kickoff at Reeves Field is 3 p.m.
