US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20 on Jan. 2. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com through the end of the month and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition in February. 

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No. 16 Navy

2018 Record: 18-4 (8-1 Patriot League)
Coach: Cindy Timchal (12th year)

All-Time Record: 173-47
NCAA Appearances: 6
Final Fours: 1
Championships: 0

A legendary coach has the annual task of solving the graduation problem.

Cindy Timchal’s Navy squad is replacing a renowned senior class that led the program to a pair of NCAA quarterfinal appearances and the 2017 semifinals. The Midshipmen return their leading scorer (junior Kelly Larkin, 117 points), but even she was overshadowed at times by Jenna and Julia Collins. Larkin didn’t even earn All-America honors from the IWLCA.

Then attention is paid to the defense: gone are three starters and a three-year starting goalie. This would seem like a daunting task to most coaches, but not Timchal.

“I don’t feel like it’s different than any other years,” Timchal said. “Certainly a special team graduated in 2018, but when our focus is player development every day, staying even-keeled and on course, that is what makes us great.”

In addition to Larkin, offensive captain Andie O’Sullivan (25g, 20a) and 40-goal scorer Meg O’Donnell will be expected to step up, in addition to other role players like Kayla Harris (28g, 75 draws) and Molly O’Sullivan (15g). Andie O’Sullivan, in particular, will have the added duty, and honor, of leading the attack.

“[Andie] really leads by example, works extraordinarily hard,” Timchal said. “At the service academies, being a captain of a team is more than just a popularity contest, you go through a selection process. It’s a bit more intense than other places. She is a player who has been great for us since she stepped up on campus.” 

The defensive captain is Marie Valenti, who led the team in caused turnovers (33) last season en route to second-team All-Patriot League honors. The leadership Valenti and Andie O’Sullivan provides is important for accountability up and down the roster.

“[Marie] has been an impact player and starter for us for all her years,” Timchal noted. “She has lots of leadership and gets better every day at practice. We need that kind of leadership from both Andie and Marie. And leadership starts with them and the rest of the senior class and it trickles down to have a team that works together and excels together.”

With the leadership solidified, Timchal is able to identify younger players who can step up, even if from unexpected places. Two players Timchal raved about were sophomore Nicole Victory and first-year Reagan Roelofs.

Victory, who will don Jenna Collins’ No. 44 jersey, appeared in 15 games off the bench, scoring 12 times. Roelofs, Minnesota’s high school player of the year in 2018, is expected to make an immediate impact. She was a three-sport athlete at Apple Valley High School in ice hockey, lacrosse and cross-country skiing.

Ultimately, Navy’s success will likely come down to how it fares against Loyola. Last season, the Mids won two of three meetings and overall Navy has taken three of the last four meetings. All three of those wins came in elimination tournaments.

“It’s fun to compete against them,” Timchal said. “Having Loyola, and now us, being able to compete with [the nation’s best], we’re making it really great and exciting.”

The Case For Navy

Navy has Larkin and total team belief. The last two seasons have proven the Mids aren’t afraid of anyone and the coaching prowess of Timchal elevates the program. Navy could surprise again this year and win a couple games in the NCAA tournament.

The Case Against Navy

Navy has many pieces to fill from last year’s amazing senior class. The younger players could acquit themselves well, but still not be to the same level of the last two Midshipmen teams. This inexperience could lead to Navy missing the NCAA tournament.

Path to the Playoffs

Navy will get plenty of opportunities to rack up resume-building wins with a bolstered non-conference season should the Mids fall short in the Patriot League tournament. Last year, Navy was likely in the NCAA tournament without the conference title, which wasn’t the case in 2017.

Players To Watch

Kelly Larkin, A, Jr.
62G, 55 A

Navy’s first player with 100 points in a season returns as the primary focus on attack. Larkin can tally the points in buckets as evidenced by notching 12 games with at least five points in 2018.

Andie O’Sullivan, M, Sr.
25G, 66 DC

The captain on offense, O’Sullivan will be tasked with sharing much of the role left behind by the Collins twins who were dynamic scorers and prolific on the draw circle. O’Sullivan is also crucial in transition whether it’s clearing or riding on defense.

Marie Valenti, D, Sr.
49 GB, 33 CT

Navy’s bulldog on defense, Valenti led the Mids with 33 caused turnovers in 2018 to earn a place on the All-Patriot League’s second team. She’s typically called upon to mark the opponents’ top attacking threat.

National Rankings

Power Ratings (Scale of 1-5)

Offense
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Defense
⭐⭐⭐

Goalkeeping
⭐⭐

Draw
⭐⭐⭐⭐

117

Kelly Larkin tallied 117 points on 62 goals and 55 points in 2018. She is the nation’s second-leading scorer returning to the field in 2019 behind BC’s Sam Apuzzo (129).

5-Year Trend
Draw Controls Per Game

Coach Confidential
Cindy Timchal

“We will be successful if win the draw and stay true to who we are by working hard. We’re no different now than any other year. We know we can compete. I think that’s key. Those other things like big draws and big saves will be the by-product of doing that.”

Enemy Lines

"They lost the Collins sisters and their goalkeeper from last year. They leave some pretty big holes, some pretty big shoes to fill that I think Navy will struggle to fill a little bit. At the same time, they have a unique mental and physical play about them. They seem to get it done when it counts. They’re certainly a team that everyone needs to keep on their radar."

"They graduated their set of twins. I have a lot of respect for what they did for Navy. They’re always a team that’s going to go down to the wire. They’ll play hard until the fat lady sings. They’re just competitive to another level. They play with such a fight and a hunger."