In a fierce showdown on April 12th, 2025, No. 5-ranked Army overcame Navy in a dramatic overtime finish, winning 12-11 in Annapolis before a passionate crowd of 7,413. The rivalry game was a testament to the heart, intensity, and sheer will of both teams, proving that records mean little when these two powerhouse programs face off.
With just over two minutes left in regulation, Army trailed Navy by one goal, but the Black Knights’ timeout sparked a rally. It wasn’t just the coaches who spoke during that break—seniors AJ Pilate and Jackson Eicher fired up their teammates with raw emotion. Their words, unprompted but deeply impactful, set the stage for a dramatic sequence that saw Army tie the game, send it to overtime, and ultimately win it with Eicher’s sudden-death goal.
The energy in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was electric, as both teams played with a level of intensity that only a rivalry game could elicit. Despite Navy’s strong lead at times and some key performances from players like sophomore AJ Marsh, who dominated his matchup with Evan Plunkett for most of the game, it was Army’s resilience that shone through when it mattered most.
Plunkett, despite struggling throughout the game, tied things up late, and a crucial defensive stop by Pilate sent the game into extra time. The back-and-forth nature of the contest was further highlighted when Navy gained possession after a face-off violation by Army, only to be thwarted by the Black Knights’ defense.
Overtime saw Army’s face-off specialist Robert Simone step up in a critical moment, securing the ball and setting up an eventual game-winning opportunity for Eicher. The ball movement was quick, the shot selection precise, and when Eicher got his chance against a shortstick defender, he made no mistake, scoring the decisive goal.
The game’s tempo was relentless, with both sides showcasing their physicality, skill, and mental toughness. For Navy, freshman William Goers had a strong game with two assists, but it was the unexpected performances of players like Jack Flaherty and Liam Hurley that kept the Midshipmen in it, with Hurley’s quick impact helping Navy surge ahead late in the fourth quarter.
In the end, this game was about more than just the numbers on the scoreboard. Army and Navy entered the field as equals in the eyes of their fans, and despite their respective records, it was clear that in this rivalry, anything can happen. The game was not decided by tactics or statistics, but by the sheer grit and determination of players who gave everything to keep the tradition of this historic matchup alive. The true heart of Army-Navy lacrosse was on full display, and it was Army who emerged victorious, cementing their status as one of the nation’s top teams while proving once again that when these two programs meet, nothing else matters.
