After Action Report: Army Surges Ahead in Ike Award Competition

It’s been a few weeks since we took the time to look at the non-football action that has been going on around the service academies.

We have Air Force men’s cross country up to number 13 in the rankings following a second place finish at the MWC Cross Country championships.

Air Force men’s soccer continues its impressive season, currently sitting at #12 in the latest D1 soccer rankings.

Army sprint football remains undefeated, needing only a victory against Cornell to lock up the CSFL North Division and a chance to face Navy in the CSFL Championship.

Army women’s soccer is onto the semifinals of the Patriot League tournament after upsetting Navy last night in double overtime.

Army men’s cross country wrapped up another Patriot League championship last weekend in Lewisburg, PA.

The Navy men’s soccer team is surging, winning three straight and hoping for some help to make the Patriot League tournament.

The Navy women’s soccer team placed three players on the first-team All Patriot League, including Alex Jackson being named Defensive Player of the Year.

Navy’s Kevin Murray won the individual championship at the Patriot League Men’s Cross Country Championship last weekend.

Needless to say, there has been a lot of impressive performances going on as all three service academies begin to wrap up some of the fall sport seasons and move into tournament play.

But I want to focus your attention on the latest round of Ike Award competitions, as there have been a number of contests over the last two weeks and we have a big slate of games headed your way this weekend as well!

Army vs Navy Women’s Soccer (Round One, Oct 12)

It only took 72 seconds for Army to get on the scoreboard in this Star Series matchup in Annapolis as Morgan Walsh scored to give the Black Knights the early 1-0 lead.

That score would stand until 8 minutes left in the contest, as the Midshipmen were able to get the equalizer with a shot from Cadie Higginson in the 82nd minute.

Continuing to put pressure on the Army defense, junior Baseley McClaskey found Eleanor Pratt who sent a curving shot into the back of the net with just 44 seconds left in the match. Navy would win the Star by a score of 2-1.

Army vs Navy Men’s Soccer

On the men’s side of the pitch, Army dominated at Talen Energy Field in Chester, PA, winning by a final score of 4-1.

That win secured both a Star for the Black Knights as well as the Army-Navy Cup Trophy for the year.

Navy got out ahead first, with a Jacob Williams shot in the 28th minute giving the Mids a 1-0 advantage, but it would be all Army from there.

Junior Keenan O’Shea would lead the way with two goals for the Black Knights, who also added scores from Sam Millikan and Bradley Schweikert to bring the trophy back to West Point.

Army vs Navy Cross Country

The cross country teams squared off in Annapolis on October 13th and it was a split between the men’s and women’s teams, just like in soccer. The Army men’s cross country team, led by Roman Ollar’s first place finish, defeated Navy 24-34, the largest margin of victory by the Black Knights since 1996. Ollar’s time of 23:58.98 was the fastest ever recorded by an Army runner at the Navy course.

Navy’s women’s team took home the star in the other race, with Grace West and Claire Ostrowski finishing first and second to lead the way in a 24-31 victory over their rivals.

Army vs Navy Women’s Soccer (Round Two)

Finally, just last night, the Army women’s soccer team defeated Navy in double overtime 1-0 in the Patriot League quarterfinals.

Erynn Johns scored in the 102nd minute off a free kick from team captain Sydney Witham, sending the Black Knights to the semifinals of the Patriot League tournament and giving Army a bit of redemption after letting the Star fall to Navy just a few weeks earlier.

Look Ahead:

This weekend gives us several Ike Award competitions as Air Force travels to Army for both football and hockey and Army and Navy battle in volleyball at West Point as well. It will be a total of four Ike Award points up for grabs as the hockey teams will play twice in league competition. There is also Air Force and Army men’s and women’s rugby, which are not being included in the standings, but needless to say, it is a full weekend of games in West Point as all of these inter-service contests will be taking place along the banks of the Hudson!

Updated 2018-2019 Ike Award Standings:

Air Force: 2-2-1

Army: 5-3-1

Navy: 5-7