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ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In a potential national championship preview, the top-ranked Navy men’s rugby team (7-0) travels to Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday to face reigning College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) national champion and fourth-ranked California (10-0) at the Witter Rugby Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m ET.
 
The game between the two rugby powers will be streamed on ESPN+ and available through links on navysports.com.
 
Navy and California met last season in Annapolis, where the Midshipmen earned a 27-3 victory.
 
Last Time Out
Navy opened its spring slate on Feb. 21 with a 52-8 victory over Mount St. Mary’s at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis, scoring eight tries from six different players.
 
The Midshipmen seized control in the first half with five tries from five scorers to build a 31-3 halftime lead. Michael Strehle opened the scoring before Adam Mertens, Max Smith and Ian Bullock each crossed the try line as Navy dominated both possession and field position.
 
Smith finished with two tries, while Andrew Baublitz added a try and an assist during a decisive second-half stretch. Roanin Krieger converted six kicks as Navy pulled away for the 52-8 win.
 
Navy Notes
• Navy is 3-0 against CRAA top-10 opponents this season entering Saturday’s game against Cal, having defeated 10th-ranked Penn State (36-7), fifth-ranked Army (21-16) and ninth-ranked Mount St. Mary’s (52-8).
• The Midshipmen have scored 50 or more points in four of their seven games this season.
• Roanin Krieger leads the team with 112 points and has made 37 of 41 conversion kicks (90%). He also has six penalty kicks.
• Andrew Baublitz and Max Smith lead the team with six tries apiece.
• Baublitz has posted multiple tries in three games this season.
• Team captain Michael Strehle scored his first try of the season in the spring opener against the Mountaineers.
 
Scouting California
• The Golden Bears enter the weekend with a 10-0 record in the 15s season.
• California defeated Life, 55-38, to win the CRAA National Championship last year.
• Cal has outscored its opponents 665-117 this season, including a 101-0 victory over Cal Poly.
• The Golden Bears have scored 50 or more points in eight games this year.
• California lost its lone scorer from last season’s meeting with Navy, Kealan O’Connell.
 
Navy vs. California History
• Navy is the last team to defeat California. The Midshipmen scored 27-unanswered points after trailing 3-0 at halftime to win in Annapolis last year.
• Navy returns every scorer from last season’s meeting: Aidan Gerber, Roanin Krieger and Max Smith.
• The Midshipmen hold a 3-1 series advantage since becoming a varsity program in 2022, including a 28-22 win in the 2023 national championship game.
• Saturday marks the second meeting between the programs in Berkeley. California won the previous game there two years ago, 47-24.