ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The #20 Navy water polo team (1-0, 1-0 MAWPC) trailed by as many as four goals to Mount St. Mary's (0-1, 0-1 MAWPC) in the season opener before surging to score 10 of the final 15 goals to claim a 15-14 victory over the Mountaineers at the Navy Open on Friday night at Lejeune Hall.
The Midshipmen trailed the Mount, 8-4 and 9-5, in the second quarter, but the Mids chipped away, closing the gap to two at the half, 10-8. Navy outscored Mount St. Mary's, 4-2, in the third quarter to knot the score at 12-12 heading into the final quarter of play. The Mids used a fourth-quarter goal from
Jack Reif to take their first lead of the night, 13-12. After the Mountaineers tied the score at 13-13,
Luka Sekulic and Reif netted back-to-back goals to take a 15-13 lead. The Mount scored a goal late, but the Navy defense held strong to secure the one-goal victory.
"Some games are easy and some test you," head coach
Luis Nicolao said after the game. "We were tested tonight. The Mount came out strong and played us tough throughout the entire game. I am proud of our guys for fighting and finding a way to come out with a gritty win. We definitely have some things to work on moving forward, but I am extremely proud of the team for battling and coming away with a win tonight."
Nine different Midshipmen found the back of the net in the game, including five that scored multiple goals.
Saul Biddle, playing in his first Navy game, registered his first collegiate hat trick with a team-leading three goals.
Quinn Bartlett, Reif, Sekulic, and
Billy Zech added a pair of goals apiece, while
Maximus Arnold,
Declan Bartlett,
Kiefer Black, and
James Mulvey each scored. It was the first collegiate goal for Arnold and D. Bartlett.
In the cage,
Ryan Munch finished with 13 saves, including 11 in the final 20 minutes of action when the Midshipmen were making their comeback.
Mount St. Mary's took an early 1-0 lead, but Biddle knotted the game at one with his first Navy goal. The Mount regained the lead, pushing their advantage to 4-1 before D. Bartlett converted a five-meter attempt to cut the margin to 4-2. The Mountaineers closed out the first period with a goal to take a 5-2 lead into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, the Midshipmen used back-to-back goals by the older Bartlett, closing the gap to one, 5-4. Mount St. Mary's countered with three straight goals to go ahead by four, 8-4. Mulvey ended the run with a goal, but a five-meter by the visitors pushed the advantage back to four, 9-5. Navy closed out the first half with three of the final four goals to trim the margin to two, 10-8. Arnold notched his first collegiate goal, while Zech and Biddle each scored before the end of the half.
Biddle completed his hat trick with a goal to start the third quarter, trimming the margin to one, 10-9. The Mount countered with consecutive goals to regain a three-goal edge, 12-9. Navy was able to tie the game at 12-12 at the end of the third quarter thanks to goals by Black, Zech, and Sekulic.
Reif gave the Midshipmen its first lead of the game, scoring six minutes into the fourth quarter. Mount St. Mary's tied the game at 13, but Sekulic and Reif countered with goals to regain the lead at 15-13. The Mountaineers scored to cut the gap to 15-14 with 45 seconds to play, but the Mids' defense was able to hold strong and preserve the one-goal victory.
The Midshipmen continues play at the Navy Open on Saturday as the Mids take on Johns Hopkins (9:30 a.m.) and Salem (5:00 p.m.). Navy's game against Hopkins will be live streamed on the Navy YouTube channel.
