Oct. 14, 2006

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The 10th-ranked Navy water polo team capped off its regular season with a pair of impressive victories on Saturday. At noon, the Mids defeated Bucknell, 10-5, then held off a 15th-ranked Princeton charge in the nightcap, 10-8. With the wins, Navy wraps up an undefeated CWPA Southern Divison season and improves to 18-5 with the victories.

In the first game of the day, Navy cruised 10-5 over 17th-ranked Bucknell. Bram Arnold scored three goals, Aaron Recko and Mike Mulvey added two and Chuck Baker, Andrew Plumb and Todd Carlson scored once. Carlson added dished out two assists and Recko won all four sprints. George Naughton made eight saves and grabbed four steals in goal. He went over 400 career saves in the contest.

In the second game, Navy surged out to an 8-2 advantage through two-and-a-half quarters, saw Princeton whittle the lead to 8-7, then held on late in the game for a 10-8 victory. The win gave Navy a perfect 8-0 league record and the No. 1 seed in the CWPA Southern Division Tournament in two weeks in Lewisburg, Pa.

"We played really well the first 19 minutes, then had to hold off Princeton's rally," said Navy head coach Mike Schofield. "It got a little hairy there late in the third and early in the fourth. But it was a good all-around effort and its nice to sweep our league foes."

Recko and Arnold scored three goals each, Mulvey added two and Baker and Plumb scored once. Naughton made seven saves with four steals.

"Plumb played well for us early and got us off to the start we needed," said Schofield. "I also want to give Princeton credit. They fought very hard and had us on the ropes in the third and fourth quarters. They never quit. They are our biggest and best rivalry and both teams played like it tonight. It was good to get a win and we are looking forward to Southerns. That is what we work for all year.

"It was also nice to send the seniors out on a strong note," said Schofield. "All three (Todd Carlson, Andrew Plumb, Connor Herron) played well today and were key in our victories."

Navy will travel to Lewisburg, Pa., in two weeks for the CWPA Southern Division Tournament. The Mids will be the No. 1 seed.