The Naval Academy was served a resounding 5-0 defeat Sunday in the 24th annual croquet match against St. John's College.
The midshipmen, clad in white sweaters and slacks, did not live up to hopes that they might build on last spring's victory over the Johnnies, who wore "Back in the USSR" T-shirts featuring a croquet mallet and a sickle.
"We wanted to rattle the Navy team," said the Johnnies' imperial wicket, or captain, Matt Mangold.
"After they won last year, they were cheering and chanting, `USA, USA!' So this was a tongue-in-cheek way of saying, `We're not really a foreign country, but we can be - watch out!' "
The Johnnies have consistently proved the better team, winning 19 times in the lighthearted Annapolis rivalry.
