ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The #20 Navy water polo team (5-0) concluded play in the 2026 Navy Open with a doubleheader sweep over Austin College (0-5) at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis. The Midshipmen began the day with a 17-5 victory over the Kangaroos, before claiming the second game of the doubleheader, 15-6.
"This was a good weekend for us," head coach
Luis Nicolao said. "We were able to get everyone that was healthy into the pool. Everyone that played contributed to our wins this weekend. There are still things that we need to work on, but It is a good thing when you don't necessarily play your best and you are still able to win. I am proud of the team for their effort this weekend and excited about improving every day throughout the season."
On the final day of the Navy Open, the Midshipmen had 10 different players score with eight players recording multiple goals on the day.
Aiden Berry and
Connor Cashman led the charge with six goals apiece.
Tanner Lustig followed with four scores, while
Luke Kirincich,
Ryan Mondzelewski,
Declan Murphy, and
Hudson Parks notched three goals apiece.
Declan Bartlett netted two goals with
Austin Kahn and
Jack Mason rounding out the scoring.
Cashman registered hat tricks in each game, while Berry, Lustig, and Kirincich added hat tricks in game one.
At goal,
Oren Penning earned the start in both games. The freshman worked the first three quarters of each game before giving way to
Francis Hendrickson for the final period. Penning tallied 16 saves in six quarters of action with eight stops in game one and eight in game two. Hendrickson notched three saves with two in game one and one in game two.
The Midshipmen travel to Princeton, N.J. for the annual Princeton Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13. The Mids will take on host #12 Princeton, LIU, and #18 Harvard during the weekend.
Game 1: #20 Navy 17, Austin College 5
The Midshipmen took an early lead and never looked back, cruising to a 17-5 win over the Kangaroos.
The team captain Cashman got the scoring started in a 5-0 first quarter to put the Mids in front early. Berry followed with back-to-back goals to push the advantage to 3-0. Lustig and Kirincich also found the back of the net in the frame to put Navy in front 5-0 through one quarter of play.
In the second quarter, Austin College chipped into the Navy lead with back-to-back goals. The Mids countered with three straight goals by Murphy, Berry, and Parks pushed the advantage to 8-2. The goal by Parks was the freshman's first collegiate tally. After a Roos' goal, Lustig and Kirincich notched two goals apiece to send the game into halftime with the Midshipmen in front 12-3.
Navy extended its advantage in the third quarter. Kahn and Berry each scored with Cashman netting a pair of goals in the quarter to extend the Midshipmen advantage to 16-4 through three periods.
The two teams matched one another in the final quarter, each scoring one goal. The Kangaroos netted their goal and Mondzelewski scored on a five-meter opportunity to provide the final margin of 17-5.
Game 2: #20 Navy 15, Austin College 6
Navy completed the two-game sweep of Austin College with a 15-6 victory in game two.
The Kangaroos took the early lead, going up 2-0 early. D. Bartlett and Murphy countered with goals to send the first quarter locked at 2-2.
In the second quarter, the Midshipmen took control of the game out scoring the Roos 7-1 in the period. Navy used a 4-0 run with goals by Mondzelewski, Cashman, and two scores by Parks to pull ahead 6-2. Following an Austin College goal, the Mids closed the half with two goals by Cashman and another score by D. Bartlett for a 9-3 lead at intermission.
Austin College began the second half with back-to-back goals to cut the margin to 9-5. Navy responded with a pair of goals by Berry and a score from Mason to head to the final quarter of play in front, 12-5.
In the fourth quarter, the Kangaroos once again scored first, but the Midshipmen responded, closing out the game with goals from Lustig, Mondzelewski, and Murphy to claim the 15-6 victory.
