CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The #16 Navy women's lacrosse team (1-0) opened the 2026 season with a 12-10 victory over #10 Virginia (0-1) on Friday evening at the Cavaliers' Lower Turf Field. The game featured several runs with the Midshipmen outlasting the home team by two.
 
The Mids fell behind 3-0 before using a 7-0 run to take the lead. After the Cavs cut the margin to two, 8-6, the Midshipmen used a 4-0 run to extend the margin to six, 12-6, before UVA countered with a 4-0 run to end the game.
 
"Tough road win for Navy women's lacrosse," head coach Cindy Timchal said after the game. "We showed grit, poise, and belief in one another from start to finish. Beating a top-10 ACC opponent in Virginia on the road doesn't happen without relentless effort and trust in our system. This win is a testament to our team's heart and resilience. We'll enjoy this one, then get right back to training tomorrow."
 
Since earning its first win against a ranked team in 2017, Navy has posted at least one victory over a ranked team each year, except a Covid-shortened 2021 season (9 of last 10 seasons).
 
Additionally, the Midshipmen improved to 15-4 in season openers and 3-3 when opening the year on the road.
 
The Mids' seniors helped power the team to a victory. Seniors Maggie DeFabio, Ava Yovino, and Emma Kennedy combined for seven of Navy's 12 goals in the game. DeFabio led the squad with three goals, notching her first assist of the year and 11th career hat trick. Yovino led the team with five points, scoring a pair of goals and a team-high three assists. Kenney joined her fellow team captain with two goals in the victory. Sophomore Chloe Brown joined the senior trio with multiple scores for her first collegiate multi-goal game. Sophomores Alyssa Chung and Taylor Miles, along with junior Caroline Gage also found the back of the cage. Brown, Chung, Anna Gotterup, and Maura Murphy each added assists.
 
Defensively, Felicia Giglio earned the victory at goal. The junior keeper finished with six saves while adding two caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls. Yovino and Lily Schmalz joined Giglio with a team-high two caused turnovers, while also leading the team with three ground balls apiece. In total, the Mids caused nine of UVA's 12 turnovers.
 
In the draw circle, Navy won 16 of 23 draws. Murphy was credited with five draw wins, while Yovino followed with four. Kennedy and Kat McAteer added two apiece with DeFabio, Gage, and Miles each adding one.
 
For Virginia, Gabby Laverghetta, Kate Galica, Cady Flaherty each finished with two goals apiece, while Madison Alaimo led the team with four assists. The Cavaliers used a pair of goalies with Mel Josephson taking the loss surrendering six goals with five saves. Elyse Finnelle entered the game in relief finishing with six goals allowed and a pair of stops.
 
The Cavaliers opened the scoring, notching three first-quarter goals to take a 3-0 advantage with 5:46 remaining in the period. Yovino put the Midshipmen on the scoreboard with the first Navy goal of the 2026 season. DeFabio converted a free-position opportunity with just under a minute in the quarter to trim the margin to 3-2.
 
In the second quarter, the Mids' offense and defense took control of the half. Brown scored the equalizer 32 ticks into the frame. DeFabio notched her second score of the half to give Navy its first lead of the 2026 season. Yovino scored her second tally to push the advantage to two and Gage extended the lead to three, 6-3, with her first goal of the season. The Midshipmen defense held the Cavaliers scoreless in the second with Giglio recording three of her four first-half saves in the period.
 
Navy began the second half with a goal by DeFabio. The goal was the senior's third goal to complete her hat trick. Virginia scored with 6:08 remaining in the period ending a 7-0 run by the Mids. Miles converted a free-position goal to put the Midshipmen back up by four, 8-4. UVA followed with two straight scores to trim the margin to two, but Kennedy countered with a goal to push the advantage to 9-6 through three quarters of play.
 
The Midshipmen continued their run with three straight scores to start the fourth quarter. Brown started the quarter with her second goal of the game, while Kennedy notched her second score of the half. Chung, Navy's leading scorer in 2025, rocketed a shot into the back of the net for her first score of 2026 to put the Mids in front 12-6. Virginia used a 4-0 run of its own to cut the margin to 12-10, but Navy secured the ensuing draw control and was able to run out the clock and secure the victory,
 
Up next, Navy will take on Villanova in the home opener on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 11:00 a.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.