Navy Women’s Rugby Falls to Army 36-5 in Star Match, Closes 2026 Fall 15s Season
By Brian Hradsky
Final Score: Army 36, Navy 5 | October 31, 2026 | Prusmack Rugby Center, Annapolis, Maryland
The Navy Midshipmen women’s rugby team concluded its 2026 fall 15s season Saturday afternoon with a 36-5 loss to rival Army in the annual Army-Navy Star Match at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis. Freshman Daryn Maloni scored Navy’s lone try, recording the first of her collegiate career, but the Black Knights controlled much of the contest after the opening exchanges. Navy finished its fall campaign with a 2-4 overall record and an identical 2-4 mark in National Intercollegiate Rugby Association competition. Army improved to 5-4 overall and 5-4 in NIRA play while securing another victory in the historic service academy rivalry.
Despite the defeat, the Midshipmen continued to hold the advantage in the broader 2026-27 Army-Navy Star Series, leading 7-3-1 following Saturday’s competition. Navy displayed determination throughout the afternoon, particularly during a competitive first half that featured several important defensive stops. However, Army’s ability to maintain field position, capitalize on scoring opportunities and finish possessions ultimately separated the teams. The Black Knights scored six tries while preventing Navy from adding to its early five-point total.
Navy Answers Army’s Early Try With Freshman Breakthrough
Army wasted little time establishing an offensive rhythm, opening the scoring in the sixth minute. Emily Steen created the opportunity by breaking through Navy’s defensive line before delivering an offload to Grace Macune. Macune finished the sequence with a try, giving the Black Knights an early 5-0 advantage. The opening score placed immediate pressure on Navy to respond in front of its home crowd.
The Midshipmen delivered an answer almost immediately, creating one of their best offensive sequences of the afternoon. Navy forced a turnover following the ensuing kickoff, quickly shifting possession into an attacking opportunity. Maloni found space along the outside and raced around the defensive edge for her first collegiate try. The freshman’s score tied the contest at 5-5 in the ninth minute and briefly restored momentum to the home side.
Maloni’s breakthrough represented an encouraging development for a Navy program continuing to build its young roster. The freshman demonstrated the awareness and acceleration necessary to take advantage of Army’s defensive positioning. Navy head coach Murph McCarthy praised her ability to understand assignments and recognize opportunities during the contest. Her performance provided an important individual highlight despite the disappointing final result.
Army Regains Control With Two First-Half Tries
Army regained the lead in the 11th minute after capitalizing on a Navy penalty. The Black Knights used a lineout and driving maul to advance near the five-meter line, where Zainab Ogunlola finished the possession with a try. Steen added the conversion to extend Army’s advantage to 12-5. The sequence demonstrated Army’s effectiveness in set-piece situations and its ability to turn favorable field position into points.
The Black Knights struck again in the 19th minute when Yesenia Morales crossed the try line for another score. Steen converted the try, pushing Army’s lead to 19-5 and giving the visitors a two-score cushion. Navy faced the challenge of slowing an Army attack that had generated three tries in the opening 20 minutes. The Midshipmen responded by tightening their defensive structure and increasing pressure around the breakdown.
Navy’s defensive effort improved considerably during the remainder of the opening half. The Midshipmen forced consecutive turnovers in the 23rd and 24th minutes, disrupting Army’s offensive rhythm and preventing the visitors from immediately extending their lead. Those stops helped Navy regain possession and create opportunities to move the ball into attacking territory. The defensive response showed the team’s resilience after a difficult opening stretch.
The Midshipmen nearly reduced the deficit before halftime with a promising possession deep in Army territory. Senior Mia Young delivered a well-placed kick that pinned the Black Knights near their own try line. Navy subsequently advanced through a maul and came within inches of scoring before Army forced a crucial turnover. The missed opportunity allowed the Black Knights to enter halftime with a 19-5 advantage.
Army Pulls Away During Second Half
Army carried its first-half advantage into the second period and continued applying pressure through effective ball movement. The Black Knights extended their lead in the 47th minute when Chloe de Leon finished a passing sequence with a try. The score increased Army’s advantage to 24-5 and placed Navy in a difficult position. The Midshipmen needed multiple scoring possessions to recover, but Army continued controlling territory.
Navy’s defense remained competitive despite spending extended stretches protecting its own end of the field. Sophomore Aleksandria Gabbard made an important contribution in the 56th minute by disrupting an Army scoring opportunity near the try line. Her pressure helped force a knock-on, temporarily preventing another Black Knights try. The play reflected the defensive effort Navy maintained even as the score became increasingly unfavorable.
Army eventually broke through again in the 61st minute when Steen crossed the try line for her own five-point score. She followed with a successful conversion, extending the Black Knights’ advantage to 31-5. Steen finished the match with 11 points, recording one try and three conversions. Her contributions made her Army’s leading scorer and one of the most influential players in the contest.
The Black Knights completed their scoring in the 74th minute when Gabby Woenker reached the try zone. Her late score pushed Army’s advantage to 36-5 and established the final margin. Navy continued competing through the closing minutes but could not find another breakthrough against the visitors’ defense. Army secured the victory and claimed the women’s rugby Star for the fourth consecutive season.
Navy’s Young Players Provide Encouragement for the Future
Although the scoreboard favored Army, Navy’s coaching staff identified encouraging individual performances throughout the contest. Maloni’s first career try highlighted the potential of the program’s younger players. Gabbard also contributed an important defensive moment during the second half, while Young helped create Navy’s best late first-half scoring opportunity. Those performances demonstrated that the Midshipmen possess developing talent capable of making meaningful contributions.
McCarthy emphasized the effort his players displayed against a strong Army opponent. The Navy coach acknowledged the Black Knights’ quality while expressing pride in his team’s commitment from the opening whistle through the final minutes. He also highlighted the progress of younger players and the dedication shown by Navy’s seniors throughout the season. The defeat was disappointing, but the coaching staff saw signs of continued growth within the program.
The 2026 fall season presented Navy with opportunities to develop its roster against challenging NIRA competition. The Midshipmen recorded victories over Lindenwood and Queens, demonstrating their ability to compete successfully against established opponents. Navy’s 18-15 victory over Lindenwood featured a dramatic defensive stand near the goal line, while its 36-19 win over Queens showcased the team’s offensive potential. Those results provided important accomplishments during an otherwise difficult campaign.
Army-Navy Women’s Rugby Rivalry Continues
Saturday’s result continued Army’s success in the women’s rugby rivalry since Navy elevated its program to varsity status. The Black Knights have now won all four meetings between the programs during that period. Army previously defeated Navy 42-22 in 2023, 41-0 in 2024 and 84-0 in 2025. The 2026 contest marked another victory for Army, although Navy’s young roster continues gaining experience against its service academy rival.
The rivalry carries additional significance because women’s rugby contributes to the overall Army-Navy Star Series. Each Star Match provides an opportunity for the academies to earn points in their annual competition across numerous sports. Although Army captured the women’s rugby Star, Navy retained a 7-3-1 advantage in the overall 2026-27 standings following the match. That broader lead reflected the Midshipmen’s success in several other athletic competitions earlier in the academic year.
For Navy, the challenge moving forward will involve turning promising individual performances into more consistent results against elite opponents. The Midshipmen demonstrated that they can create scoring opportunities, force turnovers and compete physically during difficult stretches. However, Army’s ability to capitalize on possession and maintain offensive pressure exposed areas that Navy must continue developing. Improving consistency and finishing opportunities will be important priorities for the program.
Match Scoring Summary
| Time | Team | Scorer | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th minute | Army | Grace Macune try | Army 5-0 |
| 9th minute | Navy | Daryn Maloni try | 5-5 |
| 11th minute | Army | Zainab Ogunlola try, Emily Steen conversion | Army 12-5 |
| 19th minute | Army | Yesenia Morales try, Steen conversion | Army 19-5 |
| 47th minute | Army | Chloe de Leon try | Army 24-5 |
| 61st minute | Army | Emily Steen try and conversion | Army 31-5 |
| 74th minute | Army | Gabby Woenker try | Army 36-5 |
Final: Army 36, Navy 5
MSB Take: Navy’s Future Remains Promising Despite Rivalry Defeat
The final score was disappointing for Navy, particularly because the Midshipmen entered Saturday’s matchup hoping to close their fall season with a victory over their biggest rival. Army controlled too much territory and converted too many scoring opportunities for Navy to remain competitive throughout the entire match. However, the Midshipmen deserve recognition for their defensive effort during stretches of the first half and their determination to continue competing. Those qualities provide a foundation for the program as it prepares for future competition.
Maloni’s first career try stands out as one of the most encouraging developments from the afternoon. Young players who can make an immediate impact against established programs such as Army provide valuable building blocks for future seasons. Gabbard’s defensive contributions and Young’s tactical kicking also demonstrated the different skills Navy can continue developing. The coaching staff has an opportunity to build around those strengths while addressing the team’s offensive consistency.
Navy must become more effective at converting promising possessions into points against stronger opponents. The late first-half opportunity near Army’s try line represented a potential turning point that could have reduced the deficit entering halftime. Instead, the Black Knights escaped without surrendering another score and maintained their momentum into the second half. Finishing those opportunities will be essential if Navy hopes to close the gap against Army in future meetings.
The larger picture remains important when evaluating Navy’s season. The Midshipmen earned victories over Lindenwood and Queens, showed improvement in several areas and continued developing younger players against difficult competition. While a 2-4 record does not represent the finish the program wanted, the experience gained throughout the fall can contribute to future progress. Navy’s challenge now is to translate that experience into stronger performances and more consistent results.
Looking Ahead for Navy Women’s Rugby
The loss to Army officially concluded Navy’s fall 15s campaign, leaving the Midshipmen with a 2-4 record in NIRA competition. The program will now have an opportunity to evaluate its season, recognize the contributions of its seniors and continue developing younger players. Maloni’s emergence provides one example of the talent Navy can build around in future competition. The coaching staff will also look to strengthen the team’s offensive execution and consistency against top opponents.
For Army, the victory completed a successful regular-season finale and provided momentum entering the NIRA postseason. The Black Knights will await their postseason seeding, with semifinal competition scheduled for November 14 and divisional championship matches planned for November 21-22 at West Point. Navy, meanwhile, will turn its attention toward continued program development following the conclusion of its fall 15s schedule. The next chapter of the Army-Navy women’s rugby rivalry will offer another opportunity for the Midshipmen to measure their progress.
