ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Lt. Col. Kevin Shea Memorial Cup is on the line as the Navy men's rugby team (1-0) hosts service academy rival Air Force (0-0) at 5 p.m. on Friday at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis. The Midshipmen will be looking to claim the cup for the eighth-straight time.
 
Fans can stream the game on the Navy Athletics YouTube page, with links available at navysports.com.
 
Lt. Col. Kevin Shea Memorial Cup
Shea graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1989, where he lettered in football and played rugby. He played in the 1987 Freedom Bowl and was a member of Air Force's rugby team that won the 1989 collegiate national championship. Upon graduation, he was cross-commissioned as a Marine Corps second lieutenant. He continued his rugby career as a player with the All-Marine and Combined Services rugby teams.
 
Eventually assigned to 1st Recon, Shea experienced his first combat deployment during the Persian Gulf War. He was promoted to major in 1999. He then earned a master's degree in electrical engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School in California before teaching the subject at the Naval Academy.
 
While in Annapolis, Shea served as an assistant coach of the Navy men's rugby team from 2000 to 2003. Additionally, the Class of 2003 selected him as an honorary graduate of the Naval Academy. After his time at Navy, he reported to the 1st Marine Division and deployed to Iraq as the regimental communications officer for the 1st Marines. Shea was selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel while deployed and was scheduled to take command of the 9th Communication Battalion.
 
Shea was killed in action on Sept. 14, 2004, his 38th birthday. He was nominated for a Bronze Star with valor prior to his death.
 
Navy vs. Air Force
Navy and Air Force will play for the Lt. Col. Kevin Shea Memorial Cup for the 13th time. The first meeting came in 2011, when the Mids walked away with a 24-10 victory.
 
The Falcons last won the cup in 2016, edging the Midshipmen in a tight 32-31 battle.
 
Navy has heavily controlled the rivalry in recent years, highlighted by a 79-14 win over the Falcons when the teams last met in Glendale, Colorado, in 2024. Since elevating to a varsity program in 2022, the Mids have won all three games against Air Force by a combined score of 200-22.
 
All-Time Lt. Col. Kevin Shea Memorial Cup Results
2011: Navy, 24-10
2012: Air Force, 30-20
2014: Air Force, 38-26
2015: Navy, 28-0
2016: Air Force, 32-31
2017: Navy, 46-7
2018: Navy, 38-22
2019: Navy, 81-5
2021: Navy, 65-0
2022: Navy, 71-0
2023: Navy, 50-8
2024: Navy, 79-14
 
Navy Notes

• The Mids' depth was on full display in a dominant season-opening 50-0 victory over St. Bonaventure, featuring seven tries from seven different players.
• Among the try scorers for Navy were John Masino and Grant Goddard, who each recorded the first of their careers.
• Three Midshipmen — Jude Ballinger, Max Diepenbrock, and Jayden Saxton — made their collegiate debuts in the season opener.
• Kade Williams took over kicking duties against the Bonnies, converting six of his seven conversion kicks (86%) and one penalty kick to lead Navy with 15 points.
• Masino helped lead the charge for Navy's balanced attack, anchoring the defense with a team-best 14 tackles against St. Bonaventure.
• Navy's reserves showcased the team's depth, with Waylon Davis scoring a try and Dalton Sand finishing second on the squad with 11 tackles.
• Navy's defense shined, forcing turnovers on all five of St. Bonaventure's possessions in the 22-meter zone and created 20 total turnovers in the game.

 
Scouting Air Force

• Air Force will open its season on Friday. The Falcons will play four of their first five games on the road before finishing the final three games on their home pitch.
• Air Force finished last fall with a 1-4 record, with its lone win coming against Wyoming (38-24) before forfeiting its final three games of the season.
• The Falcons feature a veteran-led group with 17 seniors returning this season.

 
Navy Sports Magazine
Team co-captain Edmund Soeder spoke with Tim Nolan on the Navy Sports Magazine show to preview the upcoming game against Air Force. The full interview is available on the Navy Athletics YouTube channel.