ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy water polo team outlasted rival Air Force, 15-14, on Thursday evening at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis to retain the Freedom Vase for the third consecutive year. The Midshipmen (9-6) lead 10-4, but the Falcons (11-4) made a run, tying the game twice. The Mids were able to regain a late lead and hold on for the one-goal victory.
"Tonight was fun," head coach
Luis Nicolao said after the game. "We had a tremendous crowd with a lot of energy in the arena. We were able to jump out to a good lead, but we knew that Air Force would keep fighting. They were able to tie the game, but credit to our guys. We kept fighting; kept battling; and found a way to get it done. I am extremely proud of this team!"
Eight Midshipmen found the back of the net on the night, including four that notched multiple scores. Navy was led by
Aiden Day, who finished with a team-high five goals.
Kiefer Black notched five points on a pair of scores and a team-high three assists.
Quinn Bartlett and
Maddox Garrahy also notched two goals apiece. Bartlett added two helpers for four points in the game.
Matt Mai-Prasarnsuk,
Luka Sekulic,
Holden Seybold, and
Billy Zech rounded out the scoring for the Mids.
Orion Erwin,
James Mulvey, Mai-Prasarnsuk, and Seybold also helped facilitate the offense with assists in the game.
At goal,
Ryan Munch worked a complete game in the cage. The sophomore finished with seven saves in a winning effort. Black and Seybold helped the defense with two steals apiece, while Sekulic was also credited with a takeaway.
Navy was the first team to scratch the scoreboard as Seybold, the team captain, buried a shot in the back of the net to start the scoring. Air Force locked the game at one, but Black quickly put the Midshipmen back in front. Following a Falcon goal, the Mids used a 3-0 run with goals by Sekulic, Mai-Prasarnsuk, and Bartlett to take a 5-2 lead through one quarter of play.
The Falcons opened the second quarter with back-to-back goals to trim the Mids' lead to one, but Day responded with three straight scores to push the advantage to 8-4. Garrahy closed out the period by converting a five-meter attempt to put Navy in front 9-4 at the half.
Zech started the second half with a goal to push the advantage to six, 18-4, but three straight goals by Air Force trimmed the margin to 10-7. Day converted a five-meter attempt to extend the advantage back to four, but a 3-0 run by the Falcons cut the margin to just one, 11-10. Day put Navy up by two, 12-10, to end the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Falcons netted back-to-back goals to lock the game at 12-12. The Midshipmen regained the lead thanks to a Garrahy goal, but Air Force used a five-meter goal to lock the game at 13. Navy reclaimed the advantage thanks to a goal by Bartlett and Black slipped one by the Air Force goalie to take a 15-13 lead. The Falcons were able to cut the margin to one, but the Mids were able to run out the clock and preserve the victory.
The Midshipmen resume Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference play with three home games on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-28. Navy will take on Mercyhurst (11:00 a.m.) and Mount St. Mary's (5:00 p.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 27 in Scott Natatorium before concluding the weekend on Sunday, Sept. 28 against Bucknell (11:00 a.m.) in Lejeune Hall. All three games will be live streamed on YouTube.
