COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Junior
Quinn Bartlett scored six second-half goals to lead the #18 Navy water polo team (8-1) to a 14-13 victory over Air Force (11-4) on Thursday night at Cadet Natatorium in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Midshipmen trailed by as many as three goals, 7-4, but outscored the Falcons 10-6 over the final 19 and a half minutes of play to claim their fourth consecutive victory in the series.
"I have said it all season long, but I love the fight in this team," head coach
Luis Nicolao said. "We fell behind early, but the guys didn't flinch. They kept battling and chipping away. Quinn played outstanding, especially in the second half. The leaders on this team found a way to take and hold the lead in a hostile environment. There are still things we need to work on, but I am proud of the way this team fought all game long. We are bringing the Freedom Vase back to Annapolis!"
Bartlett led the way with six goals – all in the second half. It was the fourth hat trick of the season for the team's leading scorer and set a new career-high for goals for the older Bartlett brother.
Kiefer Black joined Bartlett with a hat trick, finishing with three goals. It was the senior's second hat trick of the season.
Luka Sekulic added a pair of scores, while
Maximus Arnold,
Jack Pointner, and
Billy Zech each netted goals on the night.
Aiden Day and Black tied for the team lead with three assists apiece, while
Luke Kirincich and
James Mulvey each added helpers.
Ryan Munch earned the win in goal. The junior worked a complete game, finishing with nine saves and three steals on the night.
Air Force was led by seniors Jack Richards and Tom Leggett who scored four and three goals, respectively. At goal, freshman Wyatt Sturgeon recorded 15 saves in a losing effort.
The Falcons were the first team to score, netting back-to-back goals to take an early 2-0 lead. Sekulic scored to cut the margin in half, but the home team pushed its advantage back to two with a goal. Zech and Arnold tied the game at 3-3 with consecutive scores, but Air Force closed out the first quarter with a goal to lead, 4-3.
In the second quarter, Black tied the game at four with is first goal of the game. Air Force countered with three straight goals to take its largest lead of the night, 7-4. Sekulic and Black cut the margin to one with back-to-back goals to pull Navy to within one at halftime, 7-6.
Bartlett scored his first goal of the game to tie the score at seven apiece. The Falcons regained the lead, but Pointner evened the game at eight. Air Force once again scored to take the advantage, but Bartlett countered with a pair of goals to give Navy its first lead of the night at 10-9. Air Force closed out the third quarter with a goal to lock the game at 10-10 heading to the final quarter of play.
Tied at 10 in the fourth quarter, Bartlett and Black gave the Midshipmen a three-goal lead with Bartlett netting a pair of goals and Black powering one past the goalie. Air Force ended the Navy run with two goals to cut the margin to 13-12 with 28 seconds remaining in the game. The Falcons pulled the goalie to get an extra defender, but Bartlett made them pay, scoring his sixth goal on the open net to put the game out of reach. Air Force scored with two ticks on the clock, but Navy was able to run out the final seconds and secure the Freedom Vase victory.
Up next, the Midshipmen continue west to California for three games at UC Irvine. Navy will take on #17 Santa Clara (12:00 p.m. ET) and #11 Loyola Marymount (7:20 p.m. ET) on Saturday before concluding the week against host #8 UC Irvine (1:00 p.m. ET) on Sunday. Live stats will be available for all three games.
