ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy women's soccer team under the leadership of head coach
Carin Gabarra is proud welcome eight newly recruited members to its program in advance of the 2026 season. The Mids' class of recruited newcomers consists of Shea Best, Mary Kate De Bono, Alex Donoghue, Sofia Grundy, Malia Harding, Stella Jones, Margaret Pritchard and Sophia Ryan.
"This freshman class embodies everything we value at Navy," remarked Gabarra. "They are talented, driven and incredibly prepared to compete, but what excited us most is who they are as people. They are selfless, invested in teammates and committed to serving something bigger than themselves. We believe they have the talent to make an immediate impact on the field, and more importantly, the character to strengthen our culture and help lead this program forward. I'm excited to watch them begin building their legacy at Navy."
Shea Best – Goalkeeper – Gibsonia, Pennsylvania – Pine-Richland
A three-sport athlete at Pine-Richland High School, Best earned varsity letters as a goalkeeper, as well as a high jump and javelin competitor with the track & field team and as a guard on the basketball team … named to Big56 All-Conference First Team, WPIAL 4A All-Section and All-District 7 following each of her final two seasons playing for the Rams … placed ninth at the WPIAL District 7 Championship in the javelin throw as a senior … outside of school, she suited up with the Beadling Soccer Club and helped the club win three consecutive Mid-Atlantic Conference Championships … daughter of Mike and Nora … volunteered as youth soccer coach for five years
Mary Kate De Bono – Midfielder/Defender – West Nyack, New York – Albertus Magnus
Completed a strong youth career with the Albertus Magnus High School and STA club programs … helped her high school squad win three New York State Class AA Championships (2022, 2024 and 2025) and reach as high as number three nationally, while aiding STA win a pair of Girls Academy Northeast Championships and take the 2005 U.S. Champions Cup … selected to the All-New York State Class AA Second Team in 2024 and All-State First Team in 2025 … an All-East Region honoree … played in and scored a goal in the 2025 High School All-America Girl Soccer Game … captained both of her teams as a senior … received Albertus Magnus' Lou Kliewe Award for Athletic Excellence and Integrity … daughter of Joe and Mary Jo … father served in the United States Navy and reached the rank of lieutenant seeing action in Operation Desert Storm; additionally played with the All-Navy soccer team … both parents competed in soccer collegiately, her father at Holy Cross and mother at Hamilton College … older brother Danny ('29) plays soccer at Washington & Lee and participates in VMI's ROTC program … great uncle Peter Barry attended the Naval Academy after being active duty during World War II … elected as Albertus Magnus' Class President as a senior
Alex Donoghue – Midfielder – Chatham, New Jersey – Chatham
A standout on the pitch and the ice, Donoghue lettered in soccer and ice hockey all four years at Chatham High School … garnered First Team All-Independence League and All-Morris County honors following her junior and senior seasons, as well as a spot on the All-New Jersey Group 3 First Team in the fall of 2025 … helped Chatham sweep the Morris County and Section 2, Group 3 State Sectional Championships all four years, while earning NJSIAA Group 3 State Championships in 2023 and 2025 … suited up on the club soccer scene with PDA … is New Jersey's all-time record holder for most goals in high school girls ice hockey with 140 markers … served as a three-year captain of her hockey team, as well as during her senior year of soccer … daughter of Mark and Jennifer … father played four years of soccer at Binghamton … elected as the student council treasurer for Chatham High School
Sofia Grundy – Defender – Bethesda, Maryland – Winston Churchill
A constantly improving player, Grundy was named Winston Churchill High School's Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2022 … worked up to First Team All-Montgomery County, Second Team All-Maryland and All-Met Honorable Mention status as a junior in 2024 before concluding career with a spots on the All-County and All-State First Teams and All-Met Second Team in 2025 … participated in club action with Bethesda Soccer Club and the Fairfax Virginia Union … daughter of John and Katherine … older sister Genevieve played soccer at Rice (2013-15) … a skilled violinist, who has was the concertmaster for the WCHS orchestra, as well as co-concertmaster of the Young Artists of America Orchestra; performed at Carnegie Hall
Malia Harding – Midfielder – Gilroy, California – Christopher
A four-year member of the varsity team at Christopher High School, Harding made an immediate impact and earned All-Blossom Valley Athletic League honors and was the league's 2022-23 Newcomer of the Year … claimed the BVAL's 2023-24 Offensive Player of the Year award and later garnered her third All-BVAL accolade as a senior in 2025-26 … served as a co-captain during her junior and senior campaigns … suited up with De Anza Force Soccer Club and helped her squad win the 2023-24 ECNL Conference Championship and reach the 2024 ECNL Final Four … daughter of Vincent and Charinya … father played four seasons of soccer collegiately at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo … earned the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma for mastery of six-plus subject areas
Stella Jones – Midfielder – Jacksonville, Florida – Bishop Kenny
An All-State level performer, Jones suited up with the Bishop Kenny varsity and Jacksonville FC ECNL teams … improving from an All-First Coast Honorable Mention team member as a sophomore, Jones earned All-Florida Class 4A First Team accolades following her junior and senior seasons … named the 2026 Florida Times-Union All-First Coast Player of the Year, while captaining Bishop Kenny to a runner-up finish in the Florida Class 4A Championship … in total, helped Bishop Kenny capture three Class 4A District 3 and Class 4A Regional championships … daughter of Tripper and Amanda … grandfather was Chief OS1 on USS Philippine Sea … served as president of BKHS' chapter of the National Honor Society
Margaret Pritchard – Midfielder – Greensboro, Georgia – Greater Atlanta Christian
A two-way talent from the Greater Atlanta Christian School, Pritchard was the 2025 Region 6-AAA Midfielder of the Year before earning the title of 2026 Region 6-AAA Player of the Year as a senior … integral part of Greater Atlanta Christian School's 2024 Class 5A Georgia State Championship … additionally, GAC and Pritchard collected regional championships in 2025 and 2026 … competed on the club circuit with Atlanta Fire United … daughter of John and Sarah … older sister Molly was the goalkeeper at Ohio State from 2022-25 and was named a United Soccer Coaches Fourth Team All-American in 2025
Sophia Ryan – Midfielder – Solon, Ohio - Solon
A two-time High School All-American, Ryan brings an award-winning pedigree to Annapolis … her ascension began in 2022 with a spot on the All-Suburban League and All-Greater Cleveland First Team as a freshman before advancing to the All-Ohio State Division II Second Team in 2023 … continued collecting all-league and all-area honors before being named the 2024 Greater Cleveland Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year, an All-Ohio State First Team honoree and a United Soccer Coaches High School All-American following her junior campaign … duplicated those accolades as a senior, in addition to being named the Ohio State Division II Player of the Year … holds Solon's program record for most goals in a season (31) … served as team captain twice as an upperclassman … as a program, Solon won three consecutive district championships … played on the club circuit with Internationals Soccer Club; four-time captain with ISC and two-time ECNL All-OVC First Team honoree … attended four U.S. Youth National Team ID Center events … competed with Solon's 4x400- and 4x800m relay teams; setting he school record in the 4x4 and winning district and regional titles as a senior … daughter of Jeff and Kate … both parents were college athletes at Youngstown State, her father played football, while her mother was a soccer player
