Harvard Takes Early Control to Dismiss Navy in NIRA Clash

10.10.2026College Women

Maddie Hubbell on a break for Harvard vs Navy.

Author: Alex Goff

Harvard improved to 4-0 in NIRA DI with an impressive 53-26 defeat of Navy in Cambridge, Mass., Saturday.

Harvard scored in the first minute and rolled to a dominant 29-0 lead at halftime, and while Navy did well to open up their offense in the second half, the Crimson were well ahead by then.

The first try came when Navy failed to catch the kickoff in the air and had to chase after the rolling ball. Harvard's chasers swarmed in and forced a holding-on penalty. They tapped, worked the forwards to the tryline, and scrumhalf Ava Ference saw a chance and launched herself over.

After that Navy settled it all down for a whule, but eventually a break down the sidelines put Harvard back in scoring position before the forwards finished it off. The Crimson then punished a Navy penalty, worked the maul, and Gemma Ogoke was over for a 17-0 lead.

Navy had a chance to gain some momentum but couldn't make it pay off. A penalty at midfield was kicked to touch, albeit not particularly far. The Harvard forwards were able to steal the lineout and then flyhalf Jojo Mignone put a perfectly-weighted 50-22 kick into the corner. From there Harvard got a scrum, spun it wide, and the forwards powered it over.

Harvard added another one with Jayelle Jones burning down the sidelines, and almost added another with a long break from No. 8 Maddie Hubbell. As it turned out, Hubbell fell victim to some Navy cover defenders who refused to capitulate.

Still, it was 29-0 at halftime.

And the first minute of the second half saw Harvard's dominat scrum forcing a penalty, and this time a nice flat pass to Hubbell unleashed the USA U20 star down the sideline to score. A penalty and lineout led to a maul and a pop off the back from tighthead prop Courtney Taylor for a try. It was now 39-0 at 48 minutes.

Hard running lines and offloads out of the tackle produced another try and a 46-0 lead.

After that, Navy finally got some possession and momentum. They got the momentum when wing Natalie Peugot scooped up a loose pass and took off for an impressive 55-meter run to paydirt.

Receiving the restart, Navy stayed on the front foot and moments later scrumhalf Ally Gabbard broke through and beat a few tacklers to go in under the posts.

Peugot almost made it a second long-range try, and then, moments later, she got the ball out wide and cut back to outrun the cover to score under the sticks. Only a brilliant cover tackle from Mignone stopped yet another try from Navy, but still it was now 46-19.

Mignone then contributed offensively, taking a line down the left side, with Navy over-pursuing on defense. Eight Navy players chased Mignone, and when Harvard recycled the ball there was space on the other side, where wing Morgan Gibson finished it off for her second try of the day.

Navy got the last word, countering off a kick in open field, and Gabbard tapped on a penalty and scampered through two tackles and was over for Navy's fourth try.

Harvard was dominant in the first 50 minutes. They defended well, controlled possession, and their scrum was in control. The halfback combination of Ference and Mignone kept the pressure moving.

They did let off a little late in the second half, but that was also a function of Navy getting the one fortunate bounce for Peugot's first try, and then taking advantage of more possession. Gabbard was excellent for Navy.

With the win, Harvard will remain atop the NIRA DI standings and it's difficult to imagine them losing that spot. However, for Navy, the loss won't be a massive hit for Navy in the Power Rankings as Navy's offensive numbers will improve, as will their strength of schedule.

Still, if the Midshipmen want to make the DI semis, they now have to win their remaining conference games against Queens and Army.

Speaking of Queens and Army, the Black Knights beat the Royals 57-14 Saturday. This result will solidify Army's place in the top four, while Queens is still looking for their first win.

(Note that Saturday's Brown vs AIC game is not a playoff-pathway game.)

Ten games remain on the playoff-pathway schedule in DI. It's 10 because the AIC-vs-Queens match from September 6 that was postponed has, thankfully, been rescheduled.

So there is still plenty of rugby to be played.