No. 8 Army Secures First Conference Win, Handles Holy Cross 13–5 at Michie Stadium

Black Knights move to 6–0 for the third straight season behind Fellows’ hat trick and a defense that never let Holy Cross breathe

By J.J. Pavlick | West Point, N.Y. | Feb. 28, 2026

The scoreboard said 13–5, but the gap between No. 8 Army West Point and Holy Cross ran far deeper than eight goals. On a bright, cold afternoon at Michie Stadium, the Black Knights imposed their standard in their Patriot League opener, overwhelming the Crusaders in every phase to stay unbeaten at 6–0.

Senior attackman Gunnar Fellows delivered a hat trick, bringing him within one of 100 career goals, and 10 different teammates added one goal each, a distribution that reflected both Army’s depth and its discipline. The Black Knights outshot Holy Cross 52–32, won the ground‑ball battle 33–20, and turned the ball over just six times all afternoon.

It was the kind of performance that doesn’t just win games — it sets the tone for March.

Holy Cross Strikes First, Army Takes Over

Holy Cross opened the scoring just 58 seconds in, but the early punch barely registered. The Army Black Knights responded with three straight goals in four minutes, starting with Brayden Fountain at 11:43 off a feed from Hill Plunkett.

Then Fellows took over, and that was it for the Crusaders from Holy Cross as they were run out of Michie Stadium on the campus of West Point.

He scored at 11:03 to give Army its first lead, then again at 9:49 to make it 3–1. From there, the Black Knights’ defense tightened, holding Holy Cross scoreless for the final 10 minutes of the quarter.

A Five‑Goal Avalanche Breaks the Game Open

Holy Cross briefly cut the deficit to 3–2 early in the second quarter, but Army answered with the kind of sustained, layered run that has defined its 6–0 start.

The sequence unfolded like a program flexing its depth:

• Cal Lambert at 11:34
• Grant Masterson at 10:17
• Fellows completed his hat trick at 9:14
• Tyler Clark at 7:42
• Mike Harney at 6:35
• Drew Miller at 5:11 (from Tommy Stines)

By halftime, Army led 9–3, had scored five unanswered, and had full control of the game’s tempo.

Plunkett, Mathews, and Calabrese Extend the Lead

Army opened the third quarter with the same urgency it showed in the second. Evan Plunkett scored unassisted at 13:28, followed by Tyler Mathews at 12:12.

Nine minutes later, Ben Calabrese broke through for his second goal of the season, pushing the lead to 12–3 and effectively sealing the result.

Three Goalies, One Standard

Army’s defensive backbone remained steady no matter who was in the net; they just punished all who dared to enter the zone with hopes of glory.

• Sean Byrne: 49:30, 12 saves, 3 GA — the anchor
• Evan Richardson: 5:02, 2 saves, 1 GA
• Tade Wynn: 5:28, 1 save, 1 GA

Together, they combined for 15 saves, matching Holy Cross shot for shot and never allowing the Crusaders to build momentum. They showed the Crusaders from Massachusetts why they’re the #8 team in the nation this afternoon and continued their perfect season record.

Guibord Closes It Out

Holy Cross scored twice in the fourth, but Army’s lead never dipped below eight. Connor Guibord added his first goal of the season at 5:28, capping a day where Army’s midfield depth showed up in full.

The Black Knights finished with 11 different goal scorers, a stat line that reads less like a box score and more like a blueprint for sustainable success.

NOTES

• Army improves to 6–0 for the third straight season.
• Fellows’ hat trick brings him to 99 career goals.
• Army now leads the all‑time series vs. Holy Cross 36–1.
• Masterson and Guibord each scored their first goals of the season.
• Army held Holy Cross scoreless for the entire third quarter.

UP NEXT

Army hits the road for its second Patriot League matchup, traveling to Lafayette on Friday, March 6, for a 7:30 p.m. ET showdown in Easton, Pa.

Army didn’t just open league play; it set the bar. Every possession, every ground ball, every defensive stand looked like a team that knows exactly what it expects from itself. If you want coverage that matches that standard, the detail, the edge, and the truth behind the scorelines, our newsletter is just $2 for the entire year.

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