LEWISBURG, Pa. — The No.15-ranked United States Naval Academy water polo team (12-2, 3-0 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference) scored the final five goals of the game to record a 15-8 victory over host Bucknell University (9-7, 4-2 MAWPC) at Kinney Natatorium to snap the Bison’s six-game winning streak.
“I am proud of the way the guys played today,” head coach Luis Nicolao said after the game. “Bucknell is a good team. After a slow start to the season, they had bounced back to win a few games in a row and gain confidence. They pushed us hard, but we were able to pull away late in the game. I continue to be proud of the fight in this team. It doesn’t matter what the situation is, they just continue to battle. We will enjoy it today, but then it is back to work to get ready for another tough set of games next weekend.”
Seven Midshipmen combined to score 15 goals, including three players recording hat tricks. Quinn Bartlett led all Navy scorers with four goals, while Aiden Day and Declan Bartlett followed with three goals apiece. Billy Zech added a pair with Maximus Arnold, Kiefer Black and James Mulvey each finding the back of the net.
Ryan Munch picked up the win at goal for the Mids. The junior keeper registered nine stops, while limiting the Bison to single-digit goals.
Day opened the scoring with a five-meter goal to give the Midshipmen a 1-0 advantage. The home team knotted the game at one, but Q. Bartlett regained the advantage for Navy sending the game into the second quarter in front, 2-1.
In the second quarter, the younger Bartlett pushed the Navy advantage to three, 4-1, with back-to-back goals to start the frame. The Bison converted a pair of penalty shots to close the gap to one, but Black and Mulvey pushed the advantage to three at the half, 6-3.
Day and D. Bartlett started the third with goals to increase the Mids’ lead to five, 8-3. Two goals by Bucknell trimmed the lead to three, but Q. Bartlett countered with a goal to put Navy in front 9-5. Following a Bison goal, Day converted another five-meter opportunity to give the Midshipmen a 10-6 lead. Bucknell trimmed the margin to two, 10-8, with a pair of goals, but Q. Bartlett ended the third with a goal to give Navy an 11-8 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Navy took control of the game to earn the win. The Midshipmen outscored the Bison 4-0 in the quarter with Q. Bartlett finding the back of the net twice. Zech and Arnold also scored goals to provide the final margin of 15-8.
Release courtesy United States Naval Academy Athletics Communications
