Two IAAM Stars Commit to Navy, Extending Cindy Timchal’s Legendary Recruiting Pipeline

St. Mary’s standout Maddie Mitchell and Bryn Mawr’s Payton Van Zile join one of the nation’s premier women’s lacrosse program builders, adding fresh talent to a Navy squad poised for an even brighter future under Hall of Fame coach Cindy Timchal

Currently IAAM lacrosse rivals, Maddie Mitchell of St. Mary's (left) and Payton Van Zile of Bryn Mawr will soon be teammates at the U.S. Naval Academy. / Al Franyo

In the landscape of scholastic lacrosse, only a handful of coaches have built elite programs at multiple stops. Among them, Cindy Timchal stands alone. Her career spans more than four decades and includes transformative tenures at Northwestern, Maryland, and now the U.S. Naval Academy, where she has firmly established herself as one of the sport’s greatest program architects.

A Coaching Legacy That Rewrote Lacrosse History

Timchal’s head coaching journey began in the early 1980s at Northwestern, where she guided the Wildcats to eight winning seasons and five NCAA Tournament appearances in nine years. Her success in Evanston proved only a preview of what came next. Over 16 years at Maryland, she turned the Terrapins into the sport’s most dominant powerhouse—leading the program to eight national championships, including a historic run of seven consecutive titles from 1995 to 2001, a streak unmatched in college lacrosse history.

Since taking over at Navy in 2006, Timchal has applied the same blueprint of culture, consistency, and relentless excellence. The Midshipmen have posted double-digit wins in every full season under her leadership, captured multiple conference championships, and earned eight NCAA Tournament berths, highlighted by a Final Four appearance in 2017. That long-term stability—paired with her national stature—has allowed Navy to attract elite talent year after year, particularly from the IAAM, one of the most competitive girls’ lacrosse leagues in the country.

IAAM Pipeline Strengthens With Two 2027 Commitments

This summer, the pipeline strengthened again as two standout 2027 IAAM players committed to Navy:

Bryn Mawr defender Payton Van Zile and St. Mary’s midfielder Maddie Mitchell. Together, they helped anchor the early portion of Navy’s 2027 recruiting class, which already features eleven rising prospects. Both will join a program with a proven winning identity while stepping into a future enhanced by Navy’s new state-of-the-art lacrosse facility.

Why Payton Van Zile Chose the Naval Academy

For Van Zile, the Naval Academy represented a rare combination of high-level lacrosse, elite academics, and the opportunity to serve the country. Navy’s core values—discipline, leadership, and honor—aligned seamlessly with the personal standards she has worked to embody as a student-athlete.

Why Maddie Mitchell Saw Navy as the Perfect Fit

Mitchell, who grew up in Annapolis, has long been drawn to the Naval Academy’s tradition and environment. Its size, selectivity, and military structure created the ideal balance between academic rigor and athletic opportunity. She also welcomed the chance to continue her lacrosse career in a setting she had admired for years—and to join her sister, Grace Mitchell, currently a sophomore midfielder, for one season on the same roster. The culture at Navy, demanding yet deeply developmental, matched her vision for personal growth beyond the field.

As Timchal continues to shape the future of Navy women’s lacrosse, additions like Van Zile and Mitchell reinforce the program’s national trajectory. Both players bring skill, discipline, and an understanding of the commitment required to succeed in Annapolis. Their arrival also underscores the enduring strength of the IAAM-to-Navy bridge—a recruiting lane that has repeatedly produced impact players.

A Bright Future for Navy Women’s Lacrosse

With a decorated coach at the helm, a rapidly advancing facility infrastructure, and a fresh wave of high-level talent committed, the Naval Academy appears well-positioned for the next chapter of its rise. And for Van Zile and Mitchell, the path ahead offers the chance to contribute to a program whose best achievements may still be on the horizon.