US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20 on Dec. 17. 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.

Don’t get the mag? Join US Lacrosse today to start your subscription.

No. 16 Navy

2019 Record: 16-5, (8-1, Patriot League)
Coach: Cindy Timchal (13th year)
Assistants: Gabby Capuzzi, Kelly Devlin, Liz Schaffner, Megan Taylor

All-Time Record: 189-52
NCAA Appearances: 7
Final Fours: 1
Championships: 0

2020 Schedule

Save the Date
April 23

Loyola swept both meetings with Navy last year and historically has owned the regular season, but it was the Midshipmen who topped Loyola for the Patriot League Championships in 2017 and 2018. It’s a must-see when the two best teams in the Patriot League meet. 

Navy Looking to Draw Up Success

The biggest surprise of 2019 will have a big influence on Navy’s success again this spring.

Reagan Roelofs joined the Mids program from an emerging area in Minnesota and wasn’t sure how she would fit in at the Division I level on a top-20 team. She had to be convinced to try out to take draw controls last year, then became just the second Navy freshman to ever record 100 draw controls in a season. Her total of 146 was just a hair off the program's single-season record.

“We were super excited,” coach Cindy Timchal said. “Reagan has all the athletic tools you need and many of the intangibles that separate a great player from a good player.”

Roelofs is part of a draw control unit that won more than 62 percent of all draws, good for the fifth-best percentage in the country. And when Navy can win the ball on the draw, it sets up one of the best attacks in the country, led by Kelly Larkin.

“We want to get our opponents on their heels,” Timchal said. “In many situations, the more possessions you have, the more opportunities you have to keep that lead. It doesn’t always equate into success, but if you’re not winning the draw, you have to come back and play great defense and create some stuff.”

Navy wants to keep the ball away from its less experienced defense and a new goalie, and the offense can take a lot of pressure off that side of the field if the Mids can win the draw. Navy also uses Annalise Heyward to take draws when she’s not on the circle. Kayla Harris also is back, making for a formidable draw trio.

“The kids on the circle have to be super athletic,” Timchal said. “If you don’t win the draw, you better be good at playing defense.”

Roelofs will help more than the draw. She was sixth in scoring for the Mids and will be a bigger force on offense as well as retaining her draw control duties.

“She had good consistency,” Timchal said. “This year as a sophomore, having a whole season under her belt, we’re looking for more consistency and making more of an established contribution on the offensive end. She’s someone we’ll look to fill in the gaps of the likes of Andie [O’Sullivan].”

Projected Starters

A – Kelly Larkin – Sr. – 69 G, 52 A
A – Ellie Lecker – Jr. – 7 G, 4 A
A – Reagan Roelofs – So. – 146 DC, 35 P
A – Nicole Victory – Jr. – 32 G, 31 A
M – Kayla Harris – Sr. – 51 P, 68 DC
M – Annalise Heyward – Sr. – 83 DC, 50 P
M – Natalie Irwin – Sr. – 22 G, 14 CT
D – Alexis Bell – So. – 11 GP, 4 GB
D – Erin Carson – Fr. – 44 GB, 26 CT (high school)
D – Gil Eby – So. – 20 GB, 10 CT
D – Caroline Kwon – Jr. – 10 GB, 9 CT
G – Annie Maloney – Jr. – 12.75 GAA, .330 SV%

Tewaaraton Watch
Kelly Larkin, A, Sr.

The all-time leading points leader in Navy and Patriot League history, Larkin comes into her final season after three straight seasons of at least 100 points. She’s equally dangerous feeding or scoring. Raising her level again would help the unquestioned leader of the Mids’ offense secure her legacy on the national level.

X Factor
Annalise Heyward, M, Sr.

Heyward had a breakout season and brings a bit of everything to the Mids. She was second on the team in draw controls and third on the team in ground balls. She was Navy’s fifth player with 50 points and tied for the team lead with 29 caused turnovers.

National Rankings

17

Navy has to tighten its defense against the premier teams on its schedule to reach the upper echelon. The Mids allowed 17 goals per game in its five losses compared to 8.5 goals per game in its 16 wins. Navy won twice when allowing 13 or more goals.

Enemy Lines

“Cindy Timchal, year after year, she’s a genius. She surrounds herself with great coaches who know how to coach the game. Her players are so mentally and physically tough and composed in what they do. They always play their best lacrosse toward the end of the year, which makes them dangerous.”