Sept. 24, 2006

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The 10th-ranked Navy water polo team won both of its matches on Saturday to advance to the finals of the ECAC Championships on Sunday afternoon against St. Francis (N.Y.) at 12:30 p.m. The Mids, now 10-4 on the season, defeated Iona, 15-8, and Princeton, 11-9, to move on to the finals.

In the opener against Iona, Navy cruised to the victory over the Gaels, 15-8. Bram Arnold scored four goals, Chuck Baker added a career-high three tallies and Aaron Recko and Dan Zoellick scored twice. Andrew Plumb, Tyler Hill, Mike Mulvey and John Connors netted a goal each. George Naughton played the first half in goal, allowing three goals while making five saves and four steals, while Steve Craney stopped eight shots in the second half.

In the nightcap against Princeton, Navy fell behind 8-6, at halftime, but outscored the Tigers, 5-1, in the second half to earn a trip to the finals, 11-9.

"It was an ugly first half. We just didn't play any defense," said Navy head coach Mike Schofield. "As an entire group, we just didn't play very well. But the team decided to play defense in the second half and that was the difference. Aaron Recko had a monster game for us and played really well."

Recko tallied five goals for the Mids, while Arnold and Mulvey scored twice. Eric Gardiner and Johnny Meiners scored a goal each.

Naughton had a huge game in goal, stopping a career-high 15 shots and grabbing six steals. Most of his saves came in the second half to help Navy's rally.

Also of note, the Navy "B" team competed in the MIT Invitational, outscoring Connecticut College, 12-9, and Fordham, 10-9, on Saturday.

# GO NAVY #