Clemson Lacrosse earned the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory on Friday, defeating No. 15 Navy 11-8 in the opening round at Dorrance Field. The Tigers, ranked No. 12 nationally, erased a 7-5 deficit thanks to a dominant defensive stretch and a fourth-quarter hat trick from graduate standout Lindsey Marshall.

After falling behind midway through the third quarter, Clemson held Navy — a team averaging 16 goals per game — to just one goal over the final 26 minutes. The Tigers’ defense caused 11 of Navy’s 20 turnovers, while goalkeeper Emily Lamparter recorded seven saves on 15 shots. The defensive performance anchored a comeback that saw Clemson outscore the Midshipmen 6-1 down the stretch.

Marshall, who had been quiet through three quarters, exploded for three goals in the fourth, pushing her season total to 59. Her equalizer came with just under 14 minutes to play, and she followed it up with a go-ahead goal 30 seconds later. She completed her hat trick with five minutes remaining to give Clemson breathing room.

Clemson jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first quarter, with Lexi Edmonds scoring the first NCAA Tournament goal in program history. The Tigers led 4-1 before Navy responded with a five-goal run to take control. Goldstein’s goal in the third quarter cut the deficit to one, setting the stage for the late surge. Bridget Babcock added two key goals in the final frame, including the one that gave Clemson a 9-8 lead. She also chipped in an assist, two ground balls, and three caused turnovers.

Brooke Goldstein contributed two goals and two assists, increasing her program-record assist total to 42 this season. Edmonds scored twice, reaching the 40-goal mark on the year. Summer Agostino played a major role defensively with five caused turnovers and four ground balls.

In just its third year as a program, Clemson not only reached the NCAA Tournament but also won its debut matchup. Head coach Allison Kwolek earned her first NCAA Tournament victory after previous appearances as a head coach in 2018 and 2019. The Tigers improved to 14-6 on the season with the win.

Clemson now advances to face undefeated No. 1 seed North Carolina (18-0) in the second round on Sunday at noon. The game will be played at Dorrance Field and streamed live on ESPN+.

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