PRINCETON, N.J. — The No. 13-ranked United States Naval Academy water polo team swept a pair of games at the Princeton Invitational hosted by Princeton University at DeNunzio Pool. The Midshipmen opened the day with a 13-7 victory over No. 19 Santa Clara University before closing down Navy’s first day of competition at the event with a 16-8 defeat of Division III No. 4 Chapman University.
“It is always a good day when you can win a couple of games,” head coach Luis Nicolao stated at the end of competition.
“We started the day with a tough Santa Clara team, but we were able to make some plays and pick up the win. In the last game, we started a little slow after a big gap in between games, but the guys made some plays and we were able to come away with another win.
“We have a big one tomorrow as we start conference play against Wagner. We have to come out ready to play in order to begin conference play on a positive note.”
Navy had 13 players finish the day with goals, including 12 that notched multiple scores. Freshman Sam Collingwood paced the team with a team-best six goals with an assist for a team-best seven points. The rookie had a season-high five goals against Chapman. Michael Heller tallied four goals and a pair of assists for six points, while Ivan Pang (two goals, three assists) and Kiefer Black (one goal, four assists) notched five points apiece. Luka Sekulic scored a goal, while adding three assists for four points with Aiden Day, Nathan Duchez and Henry Williams all denting the net three times. Hayden Kahn (two goals) and Rory Begin (one goal, one assist) both notched two points, while the trio of Tommy McKnew, Merle Richman and Holden Seybold each finished with one score.
In net, Caden Capobianco finished the day with 19 saves and eight steals in two games. Capobianco tallied seven saves and six steals against Santa Clara, while adding 12 stops and two takeaways versus Chapman. Jack Hightower also saw some action between the posts, finishing with a save in each game.
The Midshipmen opened the Princeton Invitational by taking down Santa Clara.
Navy jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a Collingwood goal. The Broncos answered, but three straight by the Mids gave Navy a 4-1 advantage through one quarter. Williams scored a pair of goals around a Pang score to lead the Mids in the frame.
In the second quarter, McKnew started the scoring with his first goal of the day. Following a Santa Clara goal, Heller and Day pushed the Navy advantage to 7-2. The Broncos trimmed the margin with a score, but three straight by Navy gave the designated home team a 10-3 advantage. Williams completed his hat trick, while Duchez scored his first two of the tournament during the run. Santa Clara scored to send the game into intermission with Navy in front 10-4.
The third quarter saw the Mids pitch a shutout, outscoring the Broncos, 2-0. Black and Heller scored the only two goals of the eight-minute stretch while the defense did not allow a goal.
Santa Clara outscored Navy, 3-1, in the final period, but it was not enough as the Mids claimed the victory. Duchez was able to complete his hat trick in the fourth quarter with his third goal of the game.
Powered by five goals by Collingwood, the Midshipmen completed the sweep in day one of the Princeton Invitational by doubling Chapman.
The Mids fell behind 1-0, but a goal by Day and two scores by Collingwood put Navy in front. The Panthers notched a goal, but Kahn responded with his first score of the game. Begin scored to put the Mids in front 5-2, but a late goal trimmed the margin to 5-3 through the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Heller opened the scoring, slipping one past the goalkeeper. Kahn powered his second goal past the Chapman defense and Sekulic followed to push the advantage to 8-3. Back-to-back goals by Chapman closed the gap, but Richman sent the game into halftime with Navy in front 9-5.
Once again, Heller began the scoring, starting the third quarter with his second goal of the game. Following a Panthers’ score, Collingwood found the back of the net twice to extend the Mids’ advantage to 12-6 through three periods.
Collingwood, Pang and Seybold posted three consecutive scores to push the lead to 15-6. The Panthers used back-to-back scores, but the comeback attempt would end there as Day’s second goal of the game cemented the win.
Information courtesy United States Naval Academy Athletics Communications
