CLINTON, S.C. – A less-than-100-percent Presbyterian College women's soccer team was the victim of a red-hot first half offensive attack at the hands of Navy on Thursday night, ending up on the losing end of a 3-1 decision to a still-unbeaten Midshipmen squad.

Down two regular starters on the offensive end, the Blue Hose were unable to slow a visitor that reeled off a pair of strikes within the game's first seven minutes where they were forced to play catch-up from there.

Sophomore Lindsey Malyszek secured her second career goal in the 59^th minute to help cool off Navy, part of a final 45-minute session where the Academy was kept off the board. Emilia Lieber provided the assist as the lead was trimmed to two, although there was simply too little time remaining to make up the remainder of the distance.

The Blue Hose – never staying in one spot for too long during the non-conference stretch – will travel to Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon, coincidentally for their first midday start of the young year in six contests.
 
FINAL SCORE: Navy, 3 – Presbyterian, 1
RECORDS: Presbyterian (1-4) – Navy (2-0-3)
LOCATION: Martin Stadium (Clinton, S.C.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
- With Sloan Spees and Sarah Dieffenderfer absent due to injury-related causes on Thursday, Presbyterian hoped to atone for those misses by retaining what's been a stout defense to this point on the semester. Going into the Academy matchup, PC had conceded only three scores in four appearances although with just one W to show for it.

- Navy's aggressive mentality out of the gates proved a worthwhile strategy, gifted a penalty kick boost with only 2:31 gone by. The Midshipmen kept their foot on the gas pedal, swiftly increasing the advantage to a deuce with under seven minutes passed.

- Unfortunately for the Blue Hose, that hole kept sinking further after Navy tallied a 36:23 goal to give them an extra cushion. The visiting side outshot PC in the first frame 7-2 before things ended evenly over the final 45 in that department at 4-4.

- Lieber stopped the silence for head coach Brian Purcell's club by launching a splendid pass over the Navy defense into the vicinity of Malyszek, completing the freshman/sophomore connection that put Presbyterian on the board.

- With the Midshipmen opting to play more conservatively, the blue and garnet found two more distinct attempts to gain some more ground – both off the foot of Lina-Marie Müller – but fell shy of reaching past Academy keeper Mattie Gallagher.

- PC starter Kelly Hall and the rest of the Blue Hose back line accounted for a much more efficient second period in the loss, although a Navy opponent that had been saddled with three ties in a row finally finished the job and earned the victory based off their blazing start.

- Thursday's head coaching matchup between Purcell and Carin Gabarra featured a true rarity, in that both directors have remained at their current institution for a combined 66 years.
 
UP NEXT
 
- Presbyterian aims to get back on the winning side of things with the aforementioned trip to Jacksonville on Sept. 3, facing an ASUN opponent who will begin a four-match series of home meetings from the Sunshine State.

- The Blue Hose have a deep history with the Dolphins, dating back to the school's first season as a Division I member (2007) when Jacksonville lined up as PC's very first adversary.

- After claiming a 4-1 blowout over Alabama State to begin '23, JU has stumbled since in consecutive shutout defeats to #12 South Carolina and Florida International, most recently competing in a 2-2 stalemate with Charleston Southern last Monday.

- First touch at Southern Oak Stadium is on tap for 1:00 PM.