BRONX, N.Y. – In the third-place game of the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Tournament, the #20 Navy water polo team (22-9) posted a 16-14 win over the five-seed Wagner (12-18) at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center in the Bronx, N.Y. on Sunday morning.
 
"It was a tough game today," head coach Luis Nicolao said. "There were a lot of fouls and penalties called against both teams. That being said, I am so proud of this team. It wasn't the game we wanted to be in on Sunday, but this team made sure that we sent the seniors out with a win.
 
"The senior class led by example throughout the year, and they came up big today. Holden, our team captain, had a hat trick; Jack did a great job for us at goal, earning the win; and Rory scored a goal and won all of the sprints. This senior class has played in the championship game twice, won 20 games in three straight seasons, and have laid the foundation for success for this team for years to come. I am glad that they were able to end their careers with a win that all of them were able to contribute to."
 
Nine different Midshipmen scored in the game, including five that notched multiple scores.
 
Senior team captain Holden Seybold and sophomore Maddox Garrahy led the team with three goals apiece. For Seybold, it was just his second hat trick of the season and the first since the captain had three scores in a 13-12 win over Wagner on Sept. 5 at the Princeton Invitational.
 
Sophomore Quinn Bartlett, junior Kiefer Black, and junior Luka Sekulic followed with two scores apiece. Senior Rory Begin, junior Connor Cashman, junior Aiden Day, and freshman James Mulvey followed with one goal apiece.
 
Senior Jack Hightower worked a complete game at goal for Navy. The San Diego native finished the game with nine saves and a pair of steals in the victory.
 
In the first quarter, the two teams played even. Seniors Seybold and Begin started their final game with goals to put the Mids in front 2-0. Wagner chipped into the lead with a goal, but Garrahy extended the advantage back to two with a score. The Seahawks used a five-meter to trim the margin back to one, but Sekulic answered to push the advantage back to two goals. Wagner knotted the game with a pair of scores, including a five-meter goal, to end the first quarter locked at 4-4.
 
Seybold started the second quarter with his second goal of the game, regaining the lead for the Midshipmen. The Seahawks tied the game at 5-5, but Garrahy converted a five-meter opportunity to retake the advantage for Navy. Wagner followed with back-to-back goals to take it first lead of the day. Sekulic closed out the scoring in the half tying the game at 7-7 with his second goal of the day.
 
The Seahawks regained the lead to start the third quarter with a goal. Garrahy knotted the score at 8-8 and Bartlett's first goal of the day gave the Midshipmen the lead. Cashman fired a strike past the goalie to push the advantage to two, 10-8. Wagner scored to trim the margin to one, but Navy countered with goals by Black and Day to send the game into the final period up 12-9.
 
For the third time in the game, Seybold started the quarter with a goal, pushing the Navy advantage to four goals. Wagner responded with a 4-0 run to tie the score at 13-13. Bartlett ended the Seahawks' run with a goal to retake the lead for the Mids. Black and Mulvey followed to push the advantage to 16-13. Wagner was able to score a goal to cut the Navy lead to two, but the Midshipmen were able to close out the game and secure the victory.