McBride’s Late Goal Lifts Navy Past Army 4-3 in Thrilling Army-Navy Cup XV
By Brian Hradsky Maryland Sports Blog | October 11, 2026
The Navy Midshipmen defeated the Army Black Knights 4-3 Friday night in a thrilling Army-Navy Cup XV showdown at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. Gavin McBride scored the game-winning goal in the 85th minute, giving Navy its first victory over Army in men’s soccer since 2021. The Midshipmen overcame three Army equalizers and used four different goal scorers to secure a memorable victory in front of 10,597 spectators. The win also earned Navy another Star in the 2026-27 Army-Navy Star Series.
Navy Strikes First in Competitive Opening Half
Navy entered the rivalry matchup looking to snap a three-game losing streak and secure its first Patriot League victory of the season. The Midshipmen created several early scoring opportunities, including two attempts from Will Smith in the 16th minute that Army goalkeeper Keanu Likewise stopped. Braedy Strothkamp nearly broke the deadlock two minutes later when his long-range effort struck the left post. Navy continued applying pressure before finally breaking through in the 35th minute.
Jack Illig started the scoring sequence with a pass to Strothkamp, who delivered a cross into the penalty area for Smith. Smith connected with a header that beat Likewise and gave Navy a 1-0 advantage with his team-leading third goal of the season. However, the Midshipmen’s celebration was short-lived as a defensive clearance mistake resulted in an own goal just 28 seconds later. The two service academies entered halftime tied 1-1 despite Navy creating several promising opportunities.
Second Half Turns Into Offensive Shootout
The Midshipmen wasted little time reclaiming the lead after halftime, producing one of the evening’s most impressive goals in the 54th minute. Ryan Skandalis delivered a back-heel pass to Keane Brown, who fired a powerful shot off the underside of the crossbar and into the net. Brown’s first career Navy goal restored the Midshipmen’s advantage at 2-1. The spectacular finish appeared to give Navy momentum, but Army refused to go away.
The Black Knights answered in the 68th minute when Jack De Simone collected the ball following a scramble in front of the Navy goal. De Simone maneuvered past the defense and beat goalkeeper Dylan Carmody to even the score at 2-2. Navy responded almost immediately when Nick Gallucci sent a cross into the penalty area that Duncan Sullivan headed into the net in the 70th minute. Sullivan’s second goal of the season put the Midshipmen back ahead 3-2 with approximately 20 minutes remaining.
Army continued fighting and delivered another equalizer in the 81st minute following a corner kick. Owen Ennis sent the ball into the penalty area, where Jubril Bamgbala converted to tie the contest at 3-3. The goal marked the third time the Black Knights erased a Navy lead, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Despite surrendering three equalizers, the Midshipmen maintained their attacking approach rather than settling for a draw.
McBride Delivers the Game-Winning Goal
With the game tied and fewer than six minutes remaining, Navy assembled the decisive attacking sequence. Sullivan found Wyatt Stevens, who sent a low cross into the penalty area toward McBride. McBride redirected the ball into the net at 84:02 for his first career Navy goal, giving the Midshipmen a 4-3 advantage. The late strike sent Navy’s players into celebration as the team moved closer to ending its five-year drought against Army.
The Black Knights generated one final scoring opportunity in the closing seconds, but Carmody punched the ball away to preserve the victory. Carmody, making his first start since suffering an injury Aug. 23, finished with three saves in his return to the starting lineup. The victory improved Navy’s overall record to 3-5-4 and its Patriot League mark to 1-3-1, while Army fell to 1-6-3 overall and 0-4-0 in conference play. More importantly, the Midshipmen celebrated their first men’s soccer Star victory over Army since 2021.
Navy’s Offensive Performance Highlights Victory
Navy
4
Final score
Army
3
Final score
| Match statistics | Navy | Army |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 11 | 14 |
| Shots on goal | 5 | 6 |
| Corner kicks | 3 | 10 |
| Goalkeeper saves | 3 | 1 |
| Fouls | 7 | 10 |
Although Army held advantages in total shots and corner kicks, Navy made the most of its scoring opportunities. The Midshipmen converted four of their five shots on goal, demonstrating an efficiency that had been missing during their recent losing streak. Sullivan played a particularly important role, finishing with one goal and two assists for a four-point performance. His four points were the most by a Navy player in a single game since Andrew Schug accomplished the feat against Howard in September 2023.
Smith, Brown, Sullivan and McBride accounted for Navy’s four goals, while several teammates contributed to the scoring sequences. Brown and McBride each recorded the first goals of their Navy careers, adding another memorable element to the rivalry victory. Navy also improved its all-time record against Army to 42-34-17, further strengthening its historical advantage in the series. The announced crowd of 10,597 ranked as the second-largest attendance figure in college men’s soccer this season, according to Navy Athletics.
Hackworth Praises Navy’s Resilience
Navy head coach John Hackworth praised his players following the dramatic victory, emphasizing their determination to keep attacking despite Army repeatedly tying the game. The Midshipmen had struggled to turn scoring chances into goals in previous matches, making their four-goal performance particularly encouraging. Hackworth also recognized the importance of earning a rivalry victory for the team’s seniors, who had not previously experienced a men’s soccer win against Army. The emotional result provided a significant moment for a Navy program looking to build momentum during the second half of the season.
The victory also carried importance beyond the men’s soccer standings, as Navy continued building its advantage in the all-sport Star Series. With men’s soccer and women’s volleyball both defeating Army on Friday, the Midshipmen improved to 4-1 in the 2026-27 competition. Navy’s men’s soccer team will now turn its attention to William & Mary, which it will face Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. in its final nonconference match of the regular season.
MSB Take
Navy’s 4-3 victory over Army was much more than another win in the standings, as the Midshipmen showed the determination and offensive execution needed to overcome a difficult stretch of the season. Allowing three equalizers would have discouraged many teams, but Navy consistently responded with another scoring opportunity and ultimately found the winning goal. Sullivan’s playmaking, McBride’s clutch finish and Carmody’s return provided several encouraging developments for Hackworth’s squad. Ending a five-year drought against Army made the performance even more meaningful.
The Midshipmen still have defensive issues to address, particularly after allowing Army to score three times despite Navy taking the lead on four separate occasions. However, scoring four goals on five shots on target demonstrated the attacking potential that Navy can build upon moving forward. If the Midshipmen can combine that offensive efficiency with more consistent defensive performances, they could become a more dangerous opponent during the remainder of Patriot League play. For now, Navy can celebrate a rivalry victory that will be remembered for McBride’s late heroics and the team’s refusal to surrender.
Sources: Navy Athletics game recap and box score and Navy 2026 men’s soccer statistics.
