Goal-Line Stand Lifts Navy Women’s Rugby Past Lindenwood, 18-15

By Brian Hradsky

The Navy Midshipmen women’s rugby team earned its first victory of the 2026 fall season in dramatic fashion, defeating the Lindenwood Lions 18-15 on Friday afternoon at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis.

Navy needed nearly every inch of the field to secure the victory. Lindenwood drove to within meters of the try line during stoppage time and had an opportunity to steal the game, but the Midshipmen defense made one final stop near the right sideline to preserve the three-point victory. The win improved Navy to 1-2 overall and 1-2 in National Intercollegiate Rugby Association play.

It was an important result for a Navy squad that opened the season with road losses against Brown and American International College. The challenge was significant because Lindenwood entered the afternoon undefeated at 3-0 and had outscored its first three opponents 202-17. The Lions had defeated Southern Nazarene 51-0 and 48-12 while routing Queens 103-5.

Navy also had some history to overcome. Lindenwood defeated the Midshipmen 64-17 in their 2025 meeting and finished last fall 8-2 overall and 7-1 in conference competition. Navy did not simply reverse that result Friday; the Midshipmen showed they could withstand a late push from one of the stronger teams on their schedule.

Peugeot gives Navy the early lead

The opening portion of the match quickly developed into a defensive battle. Neither team could consistently turn field position into points as turnovers inside the respective 22-meter areas prevented several early opportunities from developing.

Sophomore Natalie Peugeot finally broke the scoreless tie.

Mia Young delivered a well-placed kick pass to Peugeot, who collected the ball and finished the play with a try in the 19th minute. The conversion was unsuccessful, but Navy had established the first advantage of the afternoon at 5-0.

Lindenwood answered before halftime. A long Lions run moved the ball deep into Navy territory before He’Lena Dou’Ble powered through the Midshipmen defense for a try at 34:16.

Neither side added the conversion, sending the teams into halftime tied at 5-5. The low-scoring first half provided an early indication that the match would be decided by defense, field position and the ability to capitalize on a limited number of scoring opportunities.

Navy takes control after halftime

The Midshipmen came out of halftime with considerably more offensive pressure.

Young fielded a Lindenwood clearing kick and moved the ball to Alexis Rohrbach, who attacked into the Lions’ 22-meter area. Senior Meagan Alvarez continued the possession and helped Navy move to within inches of the try line.

Peugeot finished the drive at 50:46, crossing the line for her second try of the afternoon and putting Navy back ahead 10-5.

Navy quickly created another opportunity when Lindenwood received a yellow card for a high tackle. Playing with a numerical advantage, the Midshipmen did not waste the opportunity.

Arica Spencer recovered a mishandled Lindenwood clearing kick, and Alvarez helped move the Navy attack down the field. Caroline Shegogue eventually powered across the line for a try at 55:09.

In a span of less than five minutes, Navy had turned a 5-5 halftime tie into a 15-5 advantage.

The 10-point cushion was significant, but Lindenwood was far from finished.

Lille Merlow crossed the try line at 62:50 to bring the Lions within five points at 15-10. Lindenwood suddenly had momentum and more than enough time remaining to erase Navy’s lead.

Navy responded with what ultimately became the decisive three points.

Aleksandria Gabbard caught Lindenwood off guard on a penalty return and raced into the Lions’ 22-meter area before drawing another penalty. Rather than push for a try, Navy elected to take the points.

Peugeot converted the penalty kick at 66:30, extending Navy’s lead to 18-10. It was Navy’s first successful penalty kick of the season and completed a 13-point afternoon for Peugeot.

Those three points eventually became the difference.

Lindenwood makes one final push

Lindenwood answered again less than four minutes later.

Ella Elordi found room on the outside and crossed for a try at 70:13. The Lions could not add the conversion, leaving Navy ahead 18-15 and setting up a tense final stretch. Lindenwood’s three tries in the match came from Dou’Ble, Merlow and Elordi, and all three were their first tries of the season.

Navy attempted to close out the match through a late lineout, but a turnover gave Lindenwood one final possession.

The Lions drove down the field and eventually moved to Navy’s 5-meter line during stoppage time. One successful push into the try zone would have turned Navy’s potential breakthrough victory into a heartbreaking defeat.

Instead, Navy’s defense delivered its biggest play of the afternoon.

Lindenwood attacked toward the right corner and came extremely close to crossing the line, but the Midshipmen forced the final ball carrier into touch. Navy head coach Murph McCarthy estimated afterward that Lindenwood came within roughly six inches of scoring.

The play ended the threat and secured Navy’s 18-15 victory.

Peugeot delivers breakout performance

Peugeot finished as the offensive difference-maker for the Midshipmen.

The sophomore scored two tries and converted the decisive penalty kick for 13 of Navy’s 18 points. Shegogue provided the other five points with her second-half try.

Peugeot’s performance becomes even more notable considering her relative lack of rugby experience. McCarthy said following the victory that Peugeot had been playing the sport for only about 14 months and praised the energy and development she has brought to the program.

Navy also received important contributions throughout the lineup. Young helped create the opening try and started another second-half attack, while Rohrbach, Alvarez, Spencer and Gabbard all played roles in possessions that eventually produced points.

The result represented a major turnaround after Navy’s difficult start to the season. The Midshipmen opened with a 33-17 loss at Brown before falling 32-17 at American International College. Navy had been competitive for stretches in both games, particularly against AIC, but mistakes and opposing scoring runs prevented the Mids from finishing.

Against Lindenwood, Navy finished.

That distinction was especially evident during the final possession. After surrendering two tries over the final 18 minutes, Navy could have allowed the momentum to completely shift toward the Lions. Instead, the defense held with the entire game essentially resting on one tackle.

A significant early-season victory

The quality of the opponent makes Navy’s first win even more noteworthy.

Lindenwood entered the match unbeaten and had dominated its first three opponents. The Lions were also coming off an 8-2 2025 season and reached the NIRA divisional championship, where their only conference defeat came against Harvard.

The Lions showed two days later that the narrow loss in Annapolis was hardly an indication of a struggling team. Lindenwood remained in Annapolis and defeated Brown 64-0 on Sunday, improving to 4-1. That result adds further context to what Navy accomplished Friday.

Navy now gets a week away from competition before facing an even bigger challenge.

The Midshipmen travel to face Harvard on Oct. 10. Harvard has won the last three NIRA national championships and enters the season as one of the standards of Division I women’s collegiate rugby.

For Navy, however, the Lindenwood victory provided evidence of progress after two difficult road losses. The Midshipmen generated three tries, received a huge individual performance from Peugeot and, most importantly, produced a defensive stop when there was virtually no field left behind them.

Scoring Summary

First half

Navy — Natalie Peugeot try, 18:35 — Navy 5-0

Lindenwood — He’Lena Dou’Ble try, 34:16 — Tied 5-5

Second half

Navy — Peugeot try, 50:46 — Navy 10-5

Navy — Caroline Shegogue try, 55:09 — Navy 15-5

Lindenwood — Lille Merlow try, 62:50 — Navy 15-10

Navy — Peugeot penalty kick, 66:30 — Navy 18-10

Lindenwood — Ella Elordi try, 70:13 — Navy 18-15

MSB Take

This was exactly the type of win Navy women’s rugby needed. The Midshipmen entered the home opener 0-2 and faced an undefeated Lindenwood team that had crushed its first three opponents. Instead of allowing the early-season losses to carry over, Navy played its best match when the level of competition increased.

Peugeot’s performance deserves plenty of attention. Scoring 13 points against a program such as Lindenwood is impressive on its own, but doing it with only about 14 months of rugby experience makes her development particularly interesting to watch. She provided Navy’s first points, put the Midshipmen back in front after halftime and then kicked what became the game-winning three points.

The defining moment, however, belonged to the defense. Lindenwood was essentially on Navy’s doorstep with a chance to win the match in stoppage time, and the Midshipmen refused to let the Lions cross the line. Navy turned what could have been a crushing late loss into one of its biggest early-season victories.

The schedule does not become easier with three-time defending NIRA champion Harvard waiting on Oct. 10. Navy will enter that challenge with something it did not have before Friday: a signature win and proof that it can close out a tight match against one of the better teams in the country.