BRONX, N.Y. – The #20 Navy water polo team (21-9) used a second-half rally to overcome a four-goal deficit, but was ultimately edged 11-10 by third-seeded George Washington (16-15) on Saturday evening in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Tournament at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center in the Bronx, N.Y. The Midshipmen will conclude play in the 2025 MAWPC Tournament against Wagner (12-17) in the third-place game on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.
"Today was a tough one," head coach
Luis Nicolao said after the game. "We started flat and fell behind early. Credit to our guys for battling back in the second half. We were able to take a lead, but we weren't able to hold it. I'm disappointed that the team won't be able to play for the championship tomorrow, which has been our goal all season, but I look forward to another opportunity to be together as a team tomorrow against Wagner."
Six different Midshipmen scored in the game against the Revolutionaries.
Quinn Bartlett led the attack with three goals, while
Kiefer Black and
Jack Reif followed with two goals apiece.
Aiden Day,
Maddox Garrahy, and
James Mulvey rounded out the scoring with one score each.
Ryan Munch worked a complete game in goal for the Mids, finishing with nine saves.
George Washington opened the game with a score, but Reif countered with his first of two first-quarter goals to knot the game at one. Bartlett gave the Mids a lead with a goal, but back-to-back scores by the Revolutionaries gave the designated visitors a 3-2 advantage. Reif once again tied the game, but a late GW goal put the Revolutionaries in front, 4-3.
The Revolutionaries pushed their lead to three with consecutive scores to start the scoring in the third quarter. Mulvey was able to find the back of the net to cut the margin to two, but a goal by George Washington sent the game into halftime with GW leading 7-4.
In the third quarter, George Washington once again started the scoring, extending its advantage to four at 8-4. Navy fought back ending the quarter with a 3-0 run to cut the margin to one. Day opened the run with a goal with Bartlett following with his second goal of the day. With time ticking down, Black fired a strike into the back of the net to cut the margin to 8-7 through three quarters.
Navy continued its run with a goal by Garrahy to tie the game at 8-8 in the fourth quarter. GW countered with a goal to regain a one-goal edge. Black's second tally of the night tied the game at nine. Bartlett found the back of the net with just under six minutes remaining to put Navy in front 10-9, which was the first Midshipmen lead since the game was 2-1 in the first quarter. The game remained 10-9 for the next four minutes until George Washington knotted the score with 1:47 on the clock. The Revolutionaries retook the lead 11-10 with 54 ticks on the clock. Despite their best efforts, the Midshipmen were unable to score the equalizer, dropping the one-goal decision.
