ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Powered by a career-high six goals by Aiden Day, the No. 17-ranked United States Naval Academy water polo team improved to 5-4, 2-0 in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) competition by cruising to a 20-7 MAWPC victory versus Mount St. Mary’s University in the first game of the 2025 Navy Open. The Midshipmen jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back en route to a 13-goal victory.
“It is always good to get conference wins,” head coach Luis Nicolao said after the game. “We came out strong and were able to take an early lead. I am proud of the way that we were able to play lock down defense and control the pace of the game. Tonight was great, but we still have five games remaining this weekend against some good competition.”
Day finished the day with a team-high eight points on a career-best six goals and a pair of assists. Kiefer Black followed with four scores, while Orion Erwin and Jack Mason followed with two apiece. Quinn Bartlett, Charlie Child, Maddox Garrahy, James Mulvey, Luka Sekulic and Holden Seybold rounded out the goal scoring. Day was joined by Aiden Berry, Jack Rodoni and Seybold with a team-high two assists, while Rory Begin, Connor Cashman, Matt Mai-Prasarnsuk and Mulvey each added helpers.
Ryan Munch worked the first three quarters between the posts for the Midshipmen. The sophomore finished with seven saves, while adding a steal. He gave way to Rodoni for the final quarter. Rodoni notched a pair of stops in his eight-minutes of action. Seybold paced the team with two takeaways with Berry, Garrahy, Mason, Mulvey, Munch and Sekulic also adding steals.
Navy scored nine straight goals through the first two-plus quarters to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Black got the scoring started, while Day, Mulvey and Sekulic followed with first-quarter goals. Day completed his hat trick by starting the second quarter with back-to-back scores. Seybold and Black found the back of the net to send the game into halftime with Navy in front 8-0.
In the second half, Black once again got the scoring started, putting the Mids in front 9-0. The Mount used a five-meter goal to get on the scoreboard, but the Midshipmen countered with two goals by Day to take an 11-1 lead. Mount St. Mary’s was able to cut into the Navy lead with four straight goals, but Erwin ended the run with his first score of the game. Following a third five-meter goal of the quarter for the Mountaineers, Erwin and Garrahy closed out the frame with scores to push the advantage to 14-6.
The Mount utilized its fourth penalty goal of the game to cut the margin to 14-7, but Navy closed out the game with a 6-0 run to seal the victory. Black and Day added to their totals to start the run, while Mason chipped in a pair. Bartlett and Child also put goals past the keeper to provide the final margin of 20-7.
Information courtesy United States Naval Academy Athletics Communications
