ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy women's soccer team collected the 400th win in program history on Thursday night before an energized crowd at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. Taking on intrastate rival Maryland for the 19th time in the 34 years of the program, the Mids (3-2-1) used a quick start to the game with two goals within the first 18 minutes of action and smart, smothering defensive play to earn a 2-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Terrapins (2-1-1).
Stella Jones (Fr., Jacksonville, Fla.) found the back of the net for the first time in her young career with a well-struck and curling shot into the upper-90 in the seventh minute before
Kayana Adlam (Jr., Orlando, Fla.) added an insurance goal just over 11 minutes later at 17:40. Defensively,
Natasha Stramrood (Jr., Cypress, Texas) was up to the task in goal with six saves for her first individual shutout of the 2026 season.
"I thought we finally put a lot of the pieces of what we've been working on together tonight," remarked head coach
Carin Gabarra. "Our possession was very good, we were patient, we were composed, we kept the ball a lot and we finished some great chances. Stella's goal in the run of play was an outstanding finish and something she should be very proud of, we're happy for her first career goal with that one. Kayana's goal was great too; she's been working hard on her set pieces.
"Defensively, we were very connected and played very tough. We stay very disciplined, even under the pressure from a really good attacking Maryland team. They [Maryland] held the ball a lot, they were gritty, they pushed forward and they really wanted the goal, but we kept our discipline and our composure. We did a great job of connecting passes and getting out of our defensive third. Maryland is a storied program with a lot of experience; it's always great to beat them and I'm super happy and excited for the crowd that we had tonight."
Navy's first goal was a well-built possession that started in the midfield with a cross-field pass from Adlam to Jones 30-plus yards from goal. After receiving the ball, Jones maneuvered for some space away from her defender and putting a curling shot deep into the far upper-90 where all Maryland's goalkeeper could do was watch the ball speed past her at 6:25.
The Terps wasted little time trying to draw even as Abigail Stager dribbled into the box and put a shot on goal that required Stramrood to throw her leg out for a kick save in the 10th minute.
The fast-paced back-and-forth action continued as Navy went up 2-0 at 17:40 following a foul that occurred just outside the 18-yard box. The Mids' preferred free kick taker inside 30 yards, Adlam calmly stepped up and ripped a no-doubt shot into the back of the net to double the host squad's lead.
Coming out of the locker room up 2-0, Navy nearly added further insurance in the 54th minute when Adlam took aim for the goal again, though this time Maryland's Faith Luckey reacted in time, jumping up to punch the ball over the crossbar at the last moment.
Stramrood and the Mids' defense took the baton from there to seal up the shutout victory with three saves over the final 35 minutes of action, including an athletic dive off her line to smother a McKinley Heaven attempt in the 58th minute.
For the game, Maryland out-shot Navy, 13-10 and had a 6-4 edge in shots on goal, though the more indicative stat of the Mids' consistent and threatening pressure in the attacking third was a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Stramrood's seventh career clean sheet came courtesy of six saves on Thursday evening.
Navy's win on Thursday night was the 400th in program history, all of which have come under the guidance of
Carin Gabarra. The Mids' first-ever win came on Sept. 9, 1999 with a 4-0 result at Johns Hopkins. Other notable wins for Navy, include No. 100 on Sept. 6, 2002 over Air Force in St. Louis, Missouri (2-0), No. 200 on Nov. 1, 2008 at Colgate by a 1-0 margin and No. 300 at Lehigh on Sept. 28, 2016 with a 3-0 final score.
"Winning 400 games at Navy means a lot because I've loved every minute of my time here," said Gabarra. "I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to work at an institution like this and with the individuals that I get to work with, both players and staff and everyone in the NAAA; it's an honor and a privilege.
"All of these women go on to do such incredible things with their lives. They first serve their country and then go onto work high in corporations and really make a difference. All of them go onto such great things. It's been a privilege for me to be a part of this program. I'm really happy for my staff, Rob, Mike and Tash. They've been outstanding in all capacities. All of our support staff plays a big role in 400 wins as well. I'm just so happy to be a part of Navy Women's Soccer."
Navy will conclude the home portion of its non-conference slate on Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. matchup versus Marist University at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
