PRINCETON, N.J. - The Navy women's rugby team won the Emperor 7s title for the third-consecutive year and the fourth time since 2019 on Sunday at West Windsor Fields in Princeton, N.J.
 
Navy's No. 1 team placed first in the group A pool with a 3-1 record. The Mids opened the tournament by defeating Penn State (31-0), but fell to Princeton (27-5) in their next game. Navy responded with a victory against West Chester (24-5) to set up a rematch with Princeton in the title game. Team captain Charlotte d'Halluin scored three tries in the championship match, including the game-winning try in extended time to lead the Mids to a 22-17 win over the Tigers.  
 
Navy's No. 2 team posted a 2-2 record to finish in second place in the group B bracket. The Mids dropped their first match to Penn State (24-5). Navy answered with wins over Princeton (24-21) and West Chester (24-7) to qualify for the first-place match. The Nittany Lions bested the Mids again by a score of 20-12.
 
"A 7s tournament is a rollercoaster on the body and mind. It's about finding momentum and trying to hold onto it by winning each moment and focusing on every opportunity," said assistant coach Abby Gustaitis. "I am proud of the girls for doing just that and building on the learnings from pool play into the finals. We're excited to have another chance to play and see our growth next weekend at the Frostburg 7s."
 
Match Recaps
Navy No. 1 Team vs. Penn State No. 1 Team (W, 31-0) 
The Mids shut out the Nittany Lions, 31-0, in their first match of the tournament.
 
Mia Young accounted for the first try of the day 1:20 into the contest to give Navy a 5-0 lead. Abby Hershner added seven points to the scoreboard with a try in the third minute and a successful conversion kick to make the score, 12-0. Catherine O'Hara ran into the try zone in the seventh minute and Hershner nailed another conversion kick to put the Mids ahead, 17-0, at halftime.
 
O'Hara recorded her second try of the game in the eighth minute. Hershner then sent her third conversion kick through the uprights to give Navy a 24-point lead. Siena Hall posted a try 58 seconds after O'Hara's score for the final points of the match.
 
Navy No. 1 Team vs. Princeton No. 1 Team (L, 27-5)
Princeton put the pressure on immediately and scored a converted try just 49 seconds into the game to build a 7-0 lead. d'Halluin helped the Mids respond in the fourth minute with a try to make the score, 7-5. The Tigers regained the momentum with a try to end the first half to take a 12-5 lead.
 
Princeton outscored Navy, 15-0, in the second half with tries in the 10th, 12th and 14th minutes to win, 27-5.
 
Navy No. 1 Team vs. West Chester No. 1 Team (W, 24-5)
A dominant first half lifted Navy to a 24-5 win against West Chester to qualify for the title match.
 
Hall opened the scoring with a try in the third minute to put the Mids in front, 5-0. The remainder of the contest belonged to Ella Callahan. The sophomore scored three-straight tries in the fifth, eighth and 10th minutes to earn a hat trick. Hershner also made a pair of conversion kicks to give Navy a 24-0 advantage.
 
The Golden Rams ended the match after scoring their lone try in the 14th minute.
 
Navy No. 1 Team vs. Princeton No. 1 Team (First-Place Match: W, 22-17)
The Mids came out firing in the championship match to take a 12-0 lead. d'Halluin scored back-to-back tries for Navy in the second and fourth minutes, while Hershner added another two points with a made conversion kick.
 
Princeton responded with a try just before the seventh minute to make the score, 12-5, at halftime.
 
Young helped the Mids regain a 10-point cushion by scoring a try in the ninth minute. However, the Tigers regrouped and scored a try in the 10th and 13th minutes to tie the game, 17-17. d'Halluin ended the match just before the 16th minute with her third try to secure a hat trick and win Navy its third-straight Emperor 7s title.
 
The Mids will head to Frostburg, Md., next Sunday to compete in the Frostburg 7s for their final tune-up before the 7s Collegiate Rugby Championship. The tournament will start at 9 a.m.
 
Emperor 7s Box Scores
Navy No. 1 vs. Penn State No. 1 (W, 31-0)
First Half
1:20 - Try - Navy - Mia Young (5-0)
 
3:39 - Try - Navy - Abby Hershner (10-0)
Conversion Kick - Abby Hershner (12-0)
 
7:09 - Try - Navy - Catherine O'Hara (17-0)
Conversion Kick - Abby Hershner (19-0)
 
Second Half
8:48 - Try - Navy - Catherine O'Hara (24-0)
Conversion Kick - Abby Hershner (26-0)
 
9:46 - Try - Navy - Siena Hall (31-0)
 
Navy No. 1 vs. Princeton No. 1 (L, 5-27)
First Half
0:49 - Try - Princeton (0-5)
Conversion Kick - Princeton (0-7)
 
4:43 - Try - Navy - Charlotte d'Halluin (5-7)
 
7:39 - Try - Princeton (5-12)
 
Second Half
10:12 - Try - Princeton (5-17)
 
12:21 - Try - Princeton (5-22)
 
14:00 - Try - Princeton (5-27)
 
Navy No. 1 vs. West Chester No. 1 (W, 24-5)
First Half
3:20 - Try - Navy - Siena Hall (5-0)
 
5:40 - Try - Navy - Ella Callahan (10-0)
Conversion Kick - Abby Hershner (12-0)
 
Second Half
8:34 - Try - Navy - Ella Callahan (17-0)
Conversion Kick - Abby Hershner (19-0)
 
10:04 - Try - Navy - Ella Callahan (24-0)
 
14:00 - Try - West Chester (24-5)
 
Navy No. 1 vs. Princeton No. 1 (First-Place Match, W, 22-17)
First Half
2:41 - Try - Navy - Charlotte d'Halluin (5-0)
 
4:38 - Try - Navy - Charlotte d'Halluin (10-0)
Conversion Kick - Abby Hershner (12-0)
 
6:53 - Try - Princeton (12-5)
Conversion Kick - Princeton (12-7)
 
9:06 - Try - Navy - Mia Young (17-7)
 
10:32 - Try - Princeton (17-12)
 
13:47 - Try - Princeton (17-17)
 
15:54 - Try - Navy - Charlotte d'Halluin (22-17)
 
Navy No. 2 vs. Penn State No. 2 (L, 5-24)
First Half
2:56 - Try - Penn State (0-5)
 
5:47 - Try - Penn State (0-10)
Conversion Kick - Penn State (0-12)
 
6:16 - Try - Penn State (0-17)
Conversion Kick - Penn State (0-19)
 
Second Half
12:14 - Try - Navy - Natalya Martino (5-19)
 
15:48 - Try - Penn State (5-24)
 
Navy No. 2 vs. Princeton No. 2 (W, 24-21)
First Half
2:31 - Try - Princeton (0-5)
Conversion Kick - Princeton (0-7)
 
5:26 - Try - Princeton (0-12)
Conversion Kick - Princeton (0-14)
 
7:00 - Try - Navy - Raquel Manadero (5-14)
 
Second Half
8:56 - Try - Navy - Emma Magness (10-14)
Conversion Kick - Kimberly Van (12-14)
 
11:43 - Penalty Try - Navy (19-14)
 
13:37 - Try - Princeton (19-19)
Conversion Kick - Princeton (19-21)
 
15:00 - Try - Navy - Raquel Manadero (24-21)
 
Navy No. 2 vs. West Chester No. 2 (24-7)
First Half
1:05 - Try - Navy - Raquel Manadero (5-0)
Conversion Kick - Kimberly Van (7-0)
 
2:28 - Try - Navy - Emma Magness (12-0)
 
7:07 - Try - Navy - Angelina Amador (17-0)
Conversion Kick - Angelina Amador (19-0)
 
Second Half
8:36 - Try - Navy - Sophia Cadena (24-0)
 
10:21 - Try - West Chester (24-5)
Conversion Kick - West Chester (24-7)
 
Navy No. 2 vs. Penn State No. 2 (First-Place Match, L, 12-20)
First Half
0:50 - Try - Penn State (0-5)
 
4:31 - Try - Navy - Raquel Manadero (5-5)
Conversion Kick - Kimberly Van (7-5)
 
Second Half
7:51 - Try - Penn State (7-10)
 
11:24 - Try - Penn State (7-15)
 
13:28 - Try - Navy - Raquel Manadero (12-15)
 
14:42 - Try - Penn State (12-20)