Army and Navy Play to Draw in Star Match

CHESTER, Pa. – The first-ever Army-Navy Cup played at Subaru Park will go down as one of the most memorable for the two rivalry service academies as over 6,000 fans in attendance at the MLS stadium were treated to hard fought 2-2 contest on Friday.

The Mids jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the 48th minute before the Black Knights rallied late with a pair of goals in the final 26 minutes.

Friday's game was the second of 26 meetings this academic year between the rivalry service academies as part of the Army-Navy Series presented by USAA.

Navy's senior class starred in Friday's action as Mimi Abusham registered the Mids' first goal as she put home a lead pass from Marlee Heaven in the 36th minute before Heaven scored herself in the 48th when she converted a penalty kick.

Army was led by Grace Pohlidal, who scored both of the Black Knights' goals in the second half to even up the score. It was the first career multi-goal game by the sophomore. 

Coming in fresh off the bench, Abusham made sure she'd make an impact in her final Star Match as just over 12 minutes after she checked in, she put her squad up 1-0 with second goal of 2025. The scoring opportunity began when Heaven headed a punt from Army's goalkeeper Karalyn Dail directly back toward the Black Knights' goal where Abusham rushed up on the ball and easily maneuvered around one defender and ripped a low line drive into the net at 35:21.

Coming out of the locker room up 1-0, Navy doubled its lead within minutes as Heaven was fouled as she dribbled into the 18-yard box, drawing a penalty kick opportunity. The sharp-shooting senior calmly deposited her penalty kick into the left-side netting to put the Mids up 2-0 at 47:35.

In the 55th minute, Pohlidal was able to put the Black Knights on the board to make it 2-1. Daisy West served up a free kick from just outside the 18 and Pohlidal and the Navy goaltender both went up for the ball, but neither was able to come down with it cleanly. As Pohlidal was falling to the ground the ball deflected off of her and into the back of the net. 

In the closing minutes of the match, the Black Knights found the equalizer off a long-range strike from Pohlidal. Brigid Duffy drove with the ball into the box but was stopped by two Navy defenders. Pohlidal jumped on a loose ball just outside the box, and connected on a shot from distance that went in at the top right corner to tie it 2-2.

That score stood up for the final 5:47 of play and the 31st Army-Navy Star Match went final 2-2. In dedicated Star matchups, the series leans towards Navy, 15-11-5 all-time.

For the game, Army out-shot Navy, 22-11 with a much smaller 6-5 margin for shots on goal to the Black Knights. Stramrood finished with four saves.