ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy men's soccer head coach
John Hackworth officially announced the addition of six freshmen as part of the class of 2030 on Monday.
With the newcomers arriving at the Naval Academy on Induction Day in June from four states, the Midshipmen officially welcomed
Keegan Cornett,
Jack Illig,
Gavin McLain,
Cohen Nance,
Chase Paige and
Will Smith to the 2026 roster.
Additionally, the Mids added rising sophomore goalkeeper
Andrew Howell to the team during the spring season, while sophomores
Sam Clark and
Luke Parker both switched jersey numbers to No. 1 and No. 6, respectively.
Navy opens preseason camp on Tuesday, Aug. 4, while the Mids begin the regular season on Aug. 20 when they travel to UC San Diego.
Keegan Cornett – 6-0 – Goalkeeper - Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
PERSONAL: Played varsity soccer for three seasons at Ponte Vedra High School … Was named First Team All-St. Johns/St. Augustine County and Second Team All-Northeast Florida during his time at PVHS … Also named a team captain for two seasons and won the team MVP award as a junior … Played club soccer with Sporting Jax's ECNL Boys 2008 team and Jacksonville Football Club/Armada's MLS Next 2008 squad … Also played club lacrosse for Riptide … Member of Ponte Vedra High School's Surf Club … Son of James and Amanda Cornett … Grandfather was a Captain in the U.S. Navy … Uncles, Jerry and Josh Cornett, both played lacrosse at Towson … Another uncle, John Bender, played soccer at Randolph Macon.
Jack Illig – 5-10 – Midfielder - Phoenixville, Pa.
PERSONAL: Played varsity soccer at Phoenixville Area High School in his freshman and senior years … Played at Phoenixville with Navy teammate
Nate Stewart … Named to the Frontier All-Division First Team and the Mercury All-Area First Team as a freshman … Helped Phoenixville go undefeated during the 2022 regular season and reach the District 1 Class 3A final and PIAA 3A semifinals … Won the Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship as a senior … Named to the Frontier All-Division First Team and the Mercury All-Area First Team as a senior, also being named the Mercury Athlete of the Year and earning Pennsylvania All-State selection … Played club soccer for the Philadelphia Union Academy, including winning the 2026 Dallas Cup championship … Teammates with Dartmouth's Nick Greer, Michigan's Andrew Craig, Saint Joseph's Alex Smith, Ronan Sullivan and Declan Sullivan, JoJo Elliott of Delaware, Lennon Harrington of Cornell, Nehan Hasan and Peter Doran of Penn State, Maryland's Henry Bernstein, Rutgers' Zach Mastrodimos and Brett Seemuller and Max Owusu Antwi of Saint Mary's … Spent sophomore year playing soccer at the Hertha Berlin Integrated Academy in Germany, taking classes with the Arizona State Online Prep School … Spent junior year attending the Philadelphia Union's YSC Academy … Spent part of his childhood living in Switzerland, playing scholastic soccer for International School of Berne and club soccer for Worb Soccer Club and Team Koniz … Son of Brett and Amy Illig … Father was a 1995 draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers and played six seasons of minor-league baseball in the Dodgers' system … Cousin, Quinn Illig, plays baseball at Fairfield … Both grandfathers served in the U.S. Army.
Gavin McLain – 6-1 – Midfielder – Drexel Hill, Pa.
PERSONAL: Played varsity soccer at Cardinal O'Hara High School for two seasons … Helped O'Hara win the 2026 District 12 Championship … Named a First-Team All- Philadelphia Catholic League selection as a junior and senior … Earned All-Delco honors as a senior … Played club soccer for Sporting Athletic … Also played football (four seasons) and tennis (two seasons) at Cardinal O'Hara … Son of Chris and Claire McLain … Grandfather served in the U.S. Army.
Cohen Nance – 6-1 – Forward – Lakeland, Fla.
PERSONAL: Played club soccer in Tampa Bay United's MLS NEXT program … Attended high school at the McKeel Academy of Technology … Son of Michael and Lori … Father played college soccer, spending one season at South Florida and two seasons at Florida Southern.
Chase Paige – 5-8 – Forward – Chesapeake Beach, Md.
PERSONAL: Attended Northern High School … Played club soccer for Baltimore Armour … Named a MLS NEXT Allstate Best of Game in 2024-25 … Named a National Academy Championship All-Star in 2024-25 … Served as a team captain for Baltimore Armour … Previously played club soccer for Baltimore Celtic, DeMatha Soccer Academy and Calvert Soccer Association … Teammates with Liam Erly and Nick Haney of Saint Mary's of Maryland, Quentin Pikulski of Randolph Macon and Connor Renzi of Franklin and Marshall … Son of Bryan Paige and Christiana Buck … Twin brother, Bryce, plays soccer at Radford.
Will Smith – 6-4 – Forward – Duluth, Minn.
PERSONAL: Played club soccer for Minnesota United … Graduated from Spring Lake Park High School … Played water polo at Spring Lake Park … Played varsity soccer as an eighth-grader, freshman and sophomore at Duluth East High School … Helped Duluth East finish third place in the state as an eighth-grader … Named an All-State selection as a sophomore while serving as team captain for Duluth East … Did a student exchange program in Valencia, Spain in middle school … Son of Bruce and Theresa … Brother, Patrick Smith, plays basketball at Carlton College … Grandfather was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force.
Andrew Howell – 6-0 – Goalkeeper – Kailua, Hawaii
PERSONAL: Played three seasons of varsity soccer at Le Jardin Academy … Named the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore and senior … Earned All-ILH D2 First Team honors as a junior as well … Served as team captain as a senior … Also played tennis at Le Jardin … Played freshman year for the varsity soccer team at the Naples Middle High School in Italy … Won the 2022 DoWEA Europe Championship with Naples … Played club soccer with Albion Hawaii and Leahi Na Koa … Was an executive and general council member for Wild Kids Hawaii during high school … Son of George and Perry Howell … Mother played soccer at South Carolina … Father is a captain in the U.S. Navy.
