Moon Township, Pa. – A three-point performance from Chiara Cosenza sparked a dominant showing by the Navy women's soccer team (1-0) in its 2025 season opener Thursday evening, as the Mids scored a 3-0 shutout victory over Robert Morris (0-1) at the North Athletic Complex in Moon Township, Pa.
 
Netting three goals over the opening 45 minutes of play, Navy used 21 players overall to propel itself to its fourth season-opening victory in five years, with seven freshmen making their collegiate debuts.
 
After Natasha Stramrood made the game's opening stop just three minutes in, the Mids started controlling play as the first half wore on. Navy got on the board early when Cosenza received a throw-in and dribbled into an opportunity to cross the ball into the goal box for Marlee Heaven, with Heaven bodying out a defender to tap the ball past the left post for her first goal of the campaign at 15'. Cosenza quickly extended the lead when she grabbed a takeaway in the 16th minute just outside the penalty box and then rifled a shot to the top-right corner past RMU's Emma Cameron.
 
Cameron then denied Jessica Black at 36' to keep the deficit at 2-0 but Navy's attack continued to press, with Sona Gonzales' cross in the 42nd minute finding Emily Clay, as Clay then dished out a pass that Ali Barrow finished near the left post to notch her first collegiate goal and make it 3-0 Mids before halftime.
 
Stramrood quieted the Colonials' response to start the second half, making a pair of saves on RMU's Taylor Day at 50' and 59', while Madison Whitworth nearly made it 4-0 in the 83rd minute when she sent a Clay feed wide. With Talley Applewhite taking over for Stramrood in the final 15 minutes, the Navy goalkeeping tandem combined for the three-save shutout.
 
Head Coach Carin Gabarra Remarks
"Today was a very positive outcome and a strong start to the season. We faced a good team in a tough place to play and we were able to take it to them early. The team has worked to eliminate too many low-percentage shots, so while the opportunities we had may have been low in quantity, we made sure they were high-quality chances. It wasn't a perfect game and there's things to clean up, but taking the early lead and winning on the road aren't easy. Most importantly, we were able to get some girls back from injury today and worked in most of our lineup, including our newcomers. I also want to congratulate our new athletic director, Michael Kelly, on his first victory with Navy!."
 
Match Notes
• Navy moved to 2-0 in the all-time series with Robert Morris.
• Thursday's three goals scored are the most by Navy in a season opener since a 3-2 win over UMBC on Aug. 21, 2015.
• Navy's last shutout in a season opener came in a 2-0 victory against the Citadel on Aug. 18, 2022.
• Heaven's tally marked her 12th career goal, while Cosenza notched the ninth goal of her career.
• Thursday was the third game of Cosenza's career with at least one goal and one assist.
• Heaven has totaled two goals over her four season-opening appearances.
 
Up Next
Navy will welcome Temple to the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility on Sunday, with the Mids' home opener set for a 1:00 p.m. kick.