Sept. 2, 2006
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The No. 13-ranked Navy water polo team scored two impressive victories on the first day of the Navy Labor Day Open, outscoring Santa Clara, 7-3, and St. Francis, 10-9, in overtime. With the victories, Navy jumped out to a 2-0 record after the first day of action.
In the first game of the day, Navy fell behind No. 18 Santa Clara, 3-1, at halftime before tightening up the defense and outscoring the Broncos, 6-0, in the second half. Bram Arnold led Navy with a pair of goals, while Aaron Recko added a goal and an assist. Tyler Hill, Eric Gardiner, Chuck Baker and Johnny Meiners tallied goals. Todd Carlson added an assist. In goal, George Naughton had an outstanding game, recording 10 saves and a steal.
"Our defense was outstanding against Santa Clara and George (Naughton) really held it together and was a big part of it," said Navy head coach Mike Schofield. "Our offense struggled in the first half, but really picked it up in the second half and got the job done."
In the second game, a 10-9 overtime victory over St. Francis, Recko and Michael Mulvey tallied four goals each. Recko scored the game-winning goal with about five seconds left in overtime on a nine-meter shot that slipped through the St. Francis' goalie's hands. Carlson and Andrew Plumb scored one goal each. The Mids won all six sprints in the game, led by Recko winning four. Naughton added eight saves for the Mids in goal.
"We weren't functioning that great offensively, but we got two wins today and that is what matters," said Schofield. "We need to get better and we will. I thought the defense played well all day today."
The Mids will battle No. 1-ranked California on Sunday at noon on CSTV. The game will take place in LeJeune Hall.
SCORES FROM DAY ONE:
-- Johns Hopkins 17, Mercyhust 7
-- Michigan State 18, Lindenwood 0
-- George Washington 16, Gannon 6
-- Navy JV 6, Florida Coast 3
-- Bucknell 17, Queens 4
-- Navy 7, Santa Clara 3
-- Navy JV 11, Rockford AC 6
-- California 17, St. Francis 9
-- Michigan State 5, Fordham 2
-- Navy AC 13, Florida Coast 12 (OT)
-- Iona 12, Mercyhurst 10
-- Navy AC (16-14) 11, Florida Coast (16-14) 9
-- Navy 10, St. Francis 9 (OT)
-- Navy B 4, Queens 3
-- South Florida 19, Lindenwood 7
-- George Washington 15, MIT 3
-- Navy AC 7, Rockford AC 7
-- Bucknell 9, Santa Clara 8
-- Iona 11, Michigan State 10
-- California 15, Johns Hopkins 4
-- Fordham 11, Gannon 6
-- Florida Coast 10, Rockford AC 5
-- California 20, MIT 2
-- South Florida 5, Navy AC (14) 3
# GO NAVY #
