HAMILTON – It was another dramatic finish, but unfortunately this one did not end in Colgate's favor and the Raiders' bid for a Patriot League title came up short to Navy in penalty kicks here Saturday.
 
110 minutes were not enough to crown a champion and the game advanced to penalty kicks after both teams found the net once in regulation.
 
Emily Amano led off penalty kicks for Colgate and found the back of the net with a high shot to the upper right corner. But the next two Raiders were turned away by a pair of diving saves and Navy was successful on each attempt to claim the title by a 4-1 margin.
 
What can't be lost in Colgate's season is the journey to this point. The Raiders first needed a win in their regular season finale at previously-unbeaten Army to clinch a postseason berth. They got just that with the game-winning goal in double overtime by Lyna Schaffer.
 
Then they had to go on the road for a Patriot League semifinal showdown at top-seeded Boston University. Sage DiGiulio was the hero – again in double overtime – with the golden goal 33 seconds in to upset the Terriers 1-0.
 
Colgate faced another tough task here Saturday, taking on the defending champion and preseason favorite Midshipmen for a chance to advance. Add in the fact that Colgate faced an early 1-0 deficit after Navy opened the scoring in the 13th minute.
 
But the Raiders battled once again. Lauren Rougas netted her first collegiate goal off a corner kick from Ruby Diodati with less than five minutes left in the half and it was anybody's game at the intermission.
 
Colgate had the better possession throughout the second half. Sara Anelli was on the receiving end of a long free kick from Diodati, but her shot was saved by Navy's keeper in the 73rd minute.
 
One last Colgate corner kick in the 90th minute was turned away by the Midshipmen back line and the Patriot League championship went to extra sessions tied at 1-1. 

The Raiders outshot Navy 7-1 in the two overtime periods, but could not find the late magic en route to the penalty kicks.
 
Seniors Sage DiGiulio, Sydney Maxson, and Sophia Boggs represented the Raiders on the Patriot League All-Tournament Team.
 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Lyndse Hokanson
 
On the season:
"How to summarize a year like this? This year was tremendously challenging in so many ways. There were a ton of highs and a ton of lows, obviously starting all the way back in March of last year. As a new staff, we challenged our group from the jump to evaluate their actions and how they aligned with their ambitions of being a championship team. To their credit, they dug in and did the work every way. We have grown tremendously thanks to the commitment of our team to sacrificing for the sake of growing toward our goals.

"I am so glad to be here with Colgate Women's Soccer. We are so excited for what is to come for this program."

On the senior class:
"In a year defined by uncertainty, time and again they asked themselves what their goals were worth, and they were rewarded with results and circumstances as the year went on. I have to especially give credit to our seniors, who at multiple points could have given up, or even just taken their foot off the gas. But they did not; they continued to drive us forward, and continued to lead by example and with their whole hearts, even when it was the most challenging."
 
On the tournament run:
"Ultimately, I felt like we were playing our best soccer in the final month, which is a testament to their growth mindset and the mentality of getting better each and every day. Beyond that, at the end of it, we were most sad that the season came to a close because we truly enjoyed being around one another and our determined pursuit of this joint mission."
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
• Colgate made its first Patriot League championship appearance since 2014.
• The Raiders extended their Patriot League record of consecutive postseason appearances to 13.
• Seven Raiders garnered All-Patriot League laurels, tied for the most in the League.
• Colgate capped the regular season on a three-game unbeaten streak, including back-to-back wins.
• During that late surge, Colgate racked up seven of its 10 total points to secure a postseason berth.
• Sage DiGiulio's golden goal in the double-overtime semifinal victory gave the Raiders their second win over Boston U, improving their all-time record against the Terriers to 2-8-1.
• Head Coach Lyndse Hokanson scored her first head coaching win in Colgate's season-opening double-overtime 2-1 victory over Navy on Feb. 28. 
 
2021 PATRIOT LEAGUE SPRING WOMEN'S SOCCER ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kristina Dzhandzhapanyan, Navy, Sr., M – MVP
Molly Swiger, Navy, Sr., GK
Katie Herrmann, Navy, Fr., M/D
Carolyn Mang, Navy, Jr., M
Sophia Boggs, Colgate, Sr, GK
Sydney Maxson, Colgate, Sr., D
Sage DiGiulio, Colgate, Sr., M
Jenna Oldham, Boston University, Jr., F
Morgan Messner, Boston University, Jr., GK
Gillian Borton, Loyola Maryland, Jr., D
Taylor Kauffman, Loyola Maryland Fr., M