2023 Men's Top 30: How Navy Fared vs. Projections

Before USA Lacrosse Magazine looks ahead to what’s to come in 2024, our team of staff and contributors decided it was worth taking one last look at 2023.

After all, you have to look at the most recent results before making projections for what’s to come. To do that, we’re taking a journey through the top 30 teams in men’s and women’s lacrosse — what went right, what went wrong and what we should all think of that team’s season.

Was it a success? A failure? A mixture of both? You’ll find out our thoughts over the next month or so.

NAVY MEN’S LACROSSE

Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason/Final Top 20 Ranking: 19/Unranked
2023 record: 8-8 (5-3 Patriot League)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

The Midshipmen didn’t pack it in despite a plethora of injuries in the first two months of the season, ripping off a four-game winning streak that included defeats of Boston University and Loyola to get to 7-6 before dropping two of their final three. Anthony Ghobriel (.605) emerged as a quality faceoff man at what had been a position of uncertainty. Defenseman Jackson Bonitz and midfielder Max Hewitt (24 G, 12 A) earned honorable mention All-America nods.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Injuries wrecked a first midfield line that was supposed to be a strength, with Patrick Skalniak missing more than half the season and Dane Swanson appearing in just nine games. A lackluster offensive showing against Manhattan on Feb. 18 helped trigger a six-game skid. And the Mids were overwhelmed 11-6 by academy rival Army on April 22.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

Pat Ryan delivered 23 saves — the most for any Navy goalie since Mickey Jarboe had 25 against North Carolina in 1999 — as Navy edged Loyola 11-10 on April 7 in Baltimore.

VERDICT

Skalniak’s return from a back injury in time for a Patriot League quarterfinal against Loyola — and his two goals and an assist against the Greyhounds — was an emotional high in a season in which those were sporadic at best. Various absences helped turn what set up as a breakout season into a decidedly average one. And while injuries were a factor, Navy’s shooting percentage (.226) was better than only one other Division I team.