Navy Women’s Soccer Blanks VMI, 3-0, for Fifth Straight Victory2
The Navy Midshipmen women’s soccer team continued its impressive early-season surge Sunday afternoon, scoring three times in the second half to defeat VMI, 3-0, at Patchin Field in Lexington, Virginia. Navy controlled possession and generated chances throughout the afternoon but needed nearly 68 minutes to finally break through against a determined VMI defense. Once the Midshipmen found the opening goal, the game changed quickly as Navy scored twice in a 60-second span before adding another late goal to secure its fifth consecutive victory.
The victory improved Navy to 6-2-1 on the season and completed a perfect two-game swing through Virginia after the Midshipmen defeated Radford, 5-0, three days earlier. Navy has now outscored its opponents 8-0 over its last two matches while posting consecutive shutouts. The five-game winning streak also includes victories over Maryland, Marist, Radford and VMI as Navy has quickly built momentum heading toward Patriot League play.
Despite controlling much of the action, Navy could not find the back of the net during the opening 45 minutes. The Midshipmen took six first-half shots and forced VMI goalkeeper Maren Ryberg into three saves, while the Keydets managed only three total attempts. Playing on a damp Patchin Field, Navy remained patient instead of forcing opportunities and entered halftime locked in a scoreless tie.
Navy increased the pressure immediately after halftime and eventually overwhelmed VMI with 15 second-half shots. Junior midfielder Kayana Adlam was especially active, repeatedly challenging the Keydets’ defense and putting several attempts on target. The breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute after Faith Graziano’s long-range attempt hit the crossbar and bounced into the penalty area, where Adlam was taken down by a VMI defender while pursuing the rebound.
Adlam stepped to the penalty spot and calmly converted the ensuing penalty kick at the 67:41 mark, placing her attempt into the lower corner to give Navy the 1-0 advantage. The goal was Adlam’s second of the season and finally rewarded Navy after more than an hour of attacking pressure. Instead of becoming conservative after taking the lead, the Midshipmen immediately pushed forward looking for another goal.
They needed only 60 seconds to get it.
Sophomore Helen Bonner collected a failed VMI clearance outside the penalty area and blasted a shot from approximately 25 yards into the upper portion of the net at 68:41. The spectacular strike doubled Navy’s advantage to 2-0 and gave Bonner her first goal of the season. Katia Katsari-Hoefer was credited with the assist as Navy suddenly turned what had been a scoreless defensive battle into a comfortable two-goal advantage.
The Midshipmen continued attacking instead of simply protecting the lead, eventually producing their third goal with just over eight minutes remaining. Sophomore Jessica Black worked the ball back toward senior Hannah Mulholland, who unleashed a powerful attempt that struck the crossbar and deflected down across the goal line at 81:52. The goal was Mulholland’s first of the 2026 season and gave Navy a commanding 3-0 lead.
Navy’s defense was equally impressive throughout the afternoon and allowed VMI almost nothing in the attacking third. The Midshipmen held the Keydets to seven total shots and just one attempt on goal while Navy finished with a commanding 21-7 advantage in total shots and a 12-1 edge in shots on goal. Both teams earned three corner kicks, but Navy’s territorial control and ability to repeatedly place attempts on frame eventually made the difference.
Freshman goalkeeper Shea Best handled the only VMI shot that reached the frame, stopping Isabella Franco’s attempt in the 85th minute. That save preserved Best’s first career solo shutout and gave Navy its second consecutive clean sheet. The Midshipmen have now gone more than 180 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal after shutting out both Radford and VMI during the Virginia road trip.
The offensive balance should also be encouraging for Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. Three different players scored Sunday, and the Midshipmen did not need one offensive star to carry the attack. Navy’s willingness to keep generating opportunities after a frustrating scoreless first half showed the composure of a team that increasingly looks comfortable playing from the front or working through adversity.
Gabarra described the performance as a gritty and invested effort, particularly considering the challenge of spending several days on the road and facing two opponents eager to take down Navy. The Midshipmen responded by producing two convincing road victories and controlling both matches defensively. Navy entered the trip with four victories and departed Virginia with six, strengthening what has already become an impressive opening portion of the season.
Navy will remain on the road for its next two games as part of a five-game road stretch. The Midshipmen travel to Towson on Thursday, Sept. 10, for a 6 p.m. matchup with the Tigers before heading to Youngstown State on Sunday. The Towson matchup will give Navy another Maryland-area test as the Midshipmen attempt to extend their winning streak to six games.
MSB Take
Navy is starting to look like a team that could become extremely difficult to deal with once conference play begins. The Midshipmen did not play their sharpest offensive soccer during the first half against VMI, but they stayed patient, continued generating chances and eventually broke the game open with three second-half goals. Good teams find ways to win even when the first 45 minutes do not go according to plan, and that is exactly what Navy accomplished Sunday.
The defensive performance may be even more encouraging than the three goals. Holding opponents to just one shot on goal is a formula that will give Navy a chance against almost anyone on its schedule, and consecutive shutouts show the Midshipmen are beginning to establish consistency on the back end. Five consecutive victories have completely changed the trajectory of Navy’s season, and Thursday’s game at Towson should be another excellent measuring stick for a team that continues to build momentum.
