Navy Men's Rugby Earns Star in Top-5 Matchup at Army

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The top-ranked Navy men's rugby team (6-0, 5-0 Rugby East) scored 14 points in the final 10 minutes and completed a stunning comeback with a walk-off try to defeat fifth-ranked Army (7-2, 4-2 Rugby East), 21-16, on Saturday afternoon at the Anderson Rugby Complex in West Point, N.Y.
 
The game was part of the overall Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA, with the men's rugby and sprint football wins on Saturday helping the Midshipmen even up the 2024-25 all-sport series at 4-4-1 against the Black Knights.

"We knew the team that was able to show the most composure to the very end would win and we did just that," said Navy Director of Rugby Gaven Hickie. "I am so proud of our young warriors. Beat Army!"
 
Down 13-0 late in the first half and trailing for more than 77 minutes, the Mids surged behind a pair of second-half tries and a game-winning score from Avion Ganse, who broke two tackles and dove across the line in the 77:78 mark to seal the rivalry victory.
 
Army controlled the first half, as it struck first at 14:50 when Benji Kemp finished off a phase inside the Navy 22 for a 5-0 lead. Howie Heller converted to make it 7-0, then added penalty kicks at 29:48 and 37:14 to stretch the Black Knights' advantage to 13-0.

Navy cut into the deficit on the final play of the first half, as Ian Bullock punched in a try at 40:00. Roanin Krieger's conversion sent the Mids into the break down 13-7.
 
Army extended its lead to 16-7 on Heller's third penalty kick in the 62nd minute, but Navy controlled possession from there. Max Smith powered over the try line at 70:00 and Krieger's conversion pulled the Mids within 16-14.
 
With the clock winding under 80 minutes, Navy drove deep into Army territory on its final possession. Ganse collected the ball from Krieger on the left edge, shed two tackles and surged across the line for the decisive try. Krieger drilled the conversion to push the final margin to 21-16 and close the fall season with the star victory.
 
"We played down the short side with [Michael] Strehle recognizing the space and passed off to Krieger who demanded the attention from multiple defenders," said Hickie. "That created space for Avion to scamper over. It was great recognition of space along with execution under pressure."
 
Box Score
14:50 – Try – Army – Benji Kemp (0-5)
Conversion kick – Howie Heller (0-7)
 
29:48 – Penalty kick – Army – Howie Heller (0-10)
 
37:14 – Penalty kick – Army – Howie Heller (0-13)
 
40:00 – Try – Navy – Ian Bullock (5-13)
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (7-13)
 
61:25 – Penalty kick – Army – Howie Heller (7-16)
 
70:00 – Try – Navy – Max Smith (12-16)
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (14-16)
 
77:78 – Try – Navy – Avion Ganse (19-16)
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (21-16)