ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy women's rugby team (0-0) kicks off its 2026-27 season this Saturday when it takes on National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) foe Brown (0-0) at 11 a.m. at Berylson Family Fields in Providence, R.I.
Fans can stream the game on ESPN+. A monthly or yearly subscription is required to watch the broadcast.
Season Preview
Seniors
Meagan Alvarez and
Mia Young will serve as team captains for the upcoming season. Alvarez appeared in seven games last fall, including three in the starting lineup. The Miami native finished second on the team in total points (29) and conversion kicks (9) in 15s competition last season. Overall, she has totaled 21 conversion kicks and six tries in her three seasons with the Mids.
Young has been the team's primary kicker over the last two seasons, totaling 23 conversions. Last fall, the Falls Church, Va., native led the team in total points (30) and conversion kicks (10) through nine games.
Young also led Navy to its winningest 7s season last spring, securing 14 wins and a third-place finish at the Collegiate Rugby Championship Premier Women's Cup. She ranked second on the team with 89 points on 32 conversions and five tries.
Navy returns its leading try scorer from last fall,
Caroline Shegogue, who ran in five tries. The Mids also bring back
Catherine O'Hara as well, who scored three times.
Navy opens the schedule with back-to-back road games (Brown and American International College) before playing three of its final four matchups in Annapolis, including the Army-Navy Star Game on Oct. 31.
2025-26 Season in Review
Navy compiled a 4-5 record during the fall 15s season, highlighted by a 3-4 mark in NIRA play to finish seventh in the league.
The Midshipmen set a program record with 78 points and 12 tries in a victory over Princeton (78-5) to highlight the fall season.
Scouting Brown
Brown finished with a 2-5 record in 15s play last fall—all against NIRA opponents—with victories over LIU (55-14) and Princeton (76-7) to finish eighth in the league.
The Bears lost their two highest try scorers from a year ago in Olivia Baptiste and Laryssa Barbosa, who each touched down seven times. Lily Nowak is Brown's leading returner with four tries last season, including one in back-to-back games to end the year.
A veteran core leads the Bears this season, featuring nine returning athletes who scored at least one try in 15s play last year. That group includes Caitlyn Moroney, who ran in three tries last season and contributed 60 tackles on the defensive side.
Last season, Brown's defense allowed 30 or more points in five of its seven games.
Navy vs. Brown
Saturday's game marks the second meeting in 15s competition between the two programs. In the inaugural matchup back in 2023, the Bears defended their home pitch with a 34-7 win.
