One of college lacrosse’s longest-running rivalries resumes Saturday afternoon as Navy (7–4, 3–2 Patriot League) hosts fifth-ranked Army (9–1, 4–1) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Midshipmen are looking to build on a bounce-back win over Lafayette, while the Black Knights arrive in Annapolis after impressive wins over Colgate and North Carolina.

This will be the 105th meeting between the two programs in a series dating back to 1924. Navy leads the all-time matchup 63–38–3, though Army has won two straight, including last year’s 13–8 victory at Michie Stadium. Navy’s last win came in overtime in 2022.

Faceoff is set for 12:30 p.m. and will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.

Navy head coach Joe Amplo knows what kind of opponent his team is up against.

“They are as complete a team as there exists in college lacrosse right now,” he said. “They’re dangerous in transition, they’re disciplined, and their goalie is playing as well as anyone in the country.”

Still, Amplo believes his team is hitting its stride.

“I do believe we’re playing our best going into this game in terms of where we’ve been the last four weeks,” he said. “If we can execute for 60 minutes, we’re going to have a chance.”

Last Time Out

Navy: Defeated Lafayette 14–8 behind a balanced offensive effort and 17 saves from Dan Daly. Ten different players recorded points as the Mids jumped out to an early lead and never trailed.

Army: Beat Colgate 13–7, led by Jackson Eicher’s six points. The Black Knights held the Raiders to two goals in the second half, and goalie Sean Byrne made 13 saves.

The Matchup

NAVY (7–4, 3–2 PL)

Key Players:

William Goers (Fr. A) – 13G, 15A (28P)

Mac Haley (Jr. A) – 15G, 13A (28P); has tallied points in all 11 games this season

Jack Ponzio (Fr. M) – 15G, 9A (24P); leads Navy in shooting percentage (40.5%)

Dan Daly (Jr. G) – 9.88 GAA, .541 SV%

AJ Marsh (So. D) – 8 CTs in last 3 games

Amplo on Navy’s Form:

“We hit a springboard last week with our execution in practice and the way we played Friday. We're starting to get a little healthier, and we’ve positioned ourselves to hopefully be playing our best.”

What It Means: Navy's injuries, particularly at the faceoff X, have hampered them all season. At their best, they've proved they can play with the Patriot League's leaders, beating Boston University, 13-9. At their worst, they've looked sluggish against the likes of Le Moyne and Holy Cross and were dominated by Lehigh. Lafayette isn't Army by any stretch, but they came into last week's game as winners of four straight. Navy handled them comfortably. Was that a flash in the pan, or is Navy coming into form?

#5 ARMY (9–1, 4–1 PL)

Key Players:

Jackson Eicher (Sr. A) – 35G, 25A (60P); ranks 3rd nationally in points per game

Brayden Fountain (Fr. A) – 31G, 12A (43P); shooting 50%, one of the nation’s most efficient finishers

Sean Byrne (Jr. G) – NCAA-best 6.03 GAA and .671 SV%

Christian Fournier (Sr. LSM) – 27 caused turnovers; 3rd most in the nation

Will Coletti (Sr. FO) – 58.1% at the X; returned last week from injury, went 10-for-15 vs. Colgate

Amplo on Army’s Style:

“They’re scoring before your defense can even get set… four of their first six touches against Colgate were transition goals.”

What It Means: Army doesn’t need to win faceoffs to control the game. They’re lethal in transition and efficient in settled offense, ranking among the national leaders in shot percentage and shooting volume. Navy must limit broken plays and force Army into longer possessions.

Keys to the Game:

Faceoffs – Coletti’s return gave Army a major lift against Colgate. Navy may get a similar lift if Zach Hayashi returns. Staying close to 50% would be a win for the Mids.

Transition Defense – Army thrives off quick-strike goals. Amplo mentioned that as of the UNC game, 40% of Army’s goals had come in unsettled situations. They've turned their 105 caused turnovers into production on the other end. They also average over 34 ground balls per game- nearly five more than Navy. For the Mids to have a chance, they'll have to do better in the middle of the field.

Disciplined Offense – Army leads the nation in scoring defense (6.10 GAA) and holds opponents to just 18.7% shooting. Navy can’t afford rushed or low-quality chances. Haley, Goers, and Ponzio will need to stay patient and manufacture the kind of looks that can actually beat Byrne​, because he won't let the easy ones through.

Goalie Play – The Black Knights average 13.6 goals per game and rank among the national leaders in shooting percentage. With weapons like Eicher, Fountain, and Fellows, it doesn't take much of a breakdown for Army to score. Dan Daly is coming off a 17-save performance vs. Lafayette. He doesn’t necessarily need to steal the game, but against an offense that doesn't waste possessions, he'll need his share of high-leverage saves.

Going Off-Script– “It’s going to come down to something no coach ever drew up,” Amplo said. “Bat one in, dive in front of a shot, scoop one off the end line… just find a way.”