After celebrating her 600th victory, the Navy Letterwinners Association sat down with Coach Cindy Timchal to talk about her huge milestone, the undefeated start to her #4 ranked team, and the grass roots of Navy women's lacrosse.

Navy Letterwinners: Six hundred career wins, more than any other coach in men's or women's Division 1 lacrosse. Have you had a chance to pause and reflect on the accomplishment?

Coach Timchal: There's a lot of excitement around the team right now and I think the athletes really wanted that 600th victory. Getting the win for the program was the primary focus. Sharing the milestone with the athletes was just a bonus. So, we feel blessed and fortunate right now. 

Navy Letterwinners: Ranked #4 nationally and an undefeated record, what has contributed to this team's fast start to the season?

Coach Timchal: This year's success is really a continuation from last year, when we won the conference championship and then lost a close game to Clemson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. We felt we had the potential to go even further, so the team has used that as motivation for this year. We try to keep a good balance of gratitude for each other and compete unselfishly. So now, it's just about the next game in front of us and to represent Navy women's lacrosse at the highest level. 

Navy Letterwinners: How have your two team captains, Emma Kennedy '26 and Ava Yovina '26, stepped up to lead this team?

Coach Timchal: We have two incredible young women leading this team. They are, certainly, great representatives of the Naval Academy on and off the field. But they also have an incredible love for the team and the sport. Leadership is expected here at the Naval Academy but it doesn't always come easy. They have been accountable to Bancroft Hall, but have also managed the challenges of creating a strong team culture. Collectively, they have brought the team together, no matter the playing time, to compete for each other.  

Navy Letterwinners: Alyssa Chung is having a great season as your leading scorer. What makes her skills so valuable?

Coach Timchal: Well, I would love to say it's all this amazing coaching, but many of our players come into our program ready to compete at the highest level of Division 1 Lacrosse. Alyssa put in a lot of work before she got to the Naval Academy and working with her teammates has taken her game to the next level. Her finishing abilities, around the goal, is truly amazing. Credit goes to all the extra work she puts in outside of practice. She's a real student of the game. 

Navy Letterwinners: What's your message to recruits?

Coach Timchal: The Naval Academy is such an amazing institution of higher learning. It's the top public school in the country. So, we can offer a great education, a chance to compete at the highest level of lacrosse, and the ability to serve your country. Bonus is being able to showcase your abilities in an amazing home stadium, in front of an incredible fan base. I'm so proud of our coaches' ability to attract these amazing young women, who want to serve their country and be a part of a very special program.

Navy Letterwinners: Who is wearing the #6 jersey? 

Coach Timchal: Wearing the #6 jersey is a special tradition for us. The jersey honors Valerie (Cappelaere) Delaney '09, who died in a flight training accident in Eastern Washington. Valerie was part of our club lacrosse team that transitioned into a varsity sport while she was a midshipman. The athlete who wears the jersey is selected by the team to represent Valerie's spirit and character in the way she lived her life. This year, the team selected Bella Paradiso '26 to wear the #6 jersey. Bella has taken that responsibility very seriously and honors Val's legacy through her daily actions with grace and strength.

Navy Letterwinners: You were the first head coach for Navy women's lacrosse, which was elevated to varsity status in 2006. What were the keys to success in getting this program into the national spotlight?

Coach Timchal: I give all credit to the women of Navy club lacrosse. Our club athletes created a great program that was vying for club national championships. Several of the players were elevated, and one of the players in particular who really stood out in that first year was Erin (Rawlick) Delaney '10. Even in our first year competing in the Patriot League, we made it to the conference semi-finals. Then, we had new players joining the team, like Katrina Nietsch '11, which helped bring validity to our recruiting efforts. So, it was our athletes who helped our team get immediate recognition as a varsity program.

Navy Letterwinners: What do you want our alumni to know about your program?

Coach Timchal: We are so blessed to have so many great alumni and I want them to know how grateful we are for their support. Whether it's coming to games, watching from home, or supporting us on Giving Day, we appreciate all the recognition. It means so much to know that they are following our program, especially to the current players on the team. To all of our graduates: what you stood for as a player and what you stand for as an officer and a professional…that is the best gift you can give to us.