ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The United States Naval Academy water polo team dropped a one-goal contest in overtime, 12-11, to No. 19-ranked George Washington University in a Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference match up at Scott Natatorium.
“It was a tough one today,” said head coach Luis Nicolao. “We had a chance to upset a really good George Washington team that is nationally ranked. We played well enough to win, but we missed some opportunities. We were able to force overtime and this team never quit. It was a tough game, but I am proud of our team’s fight.”
Offensively, the Midshipmen received hat tricks from Jake Altmayer (Pasadena, Calif.) and Michael Heller (Menlo Park, Calif.). The duo each scored four goals apiece, while Rory Begin (Bakersfield, Calif.) added two scores. Will Clark (Laguna Beach, Calif.), Payton Comstock (Clarendon Hills, Ill.) and Holden Seybold (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece. Altmayer added three assists, while Begin chipped in a pair of helpers.
Defensively, Caden Capobianco (Laguna Beach, Calif.) registered 17 saves at goal. The junior keeper led the way with six of Navy’s 12 steals in the game.
Navy started the game with a goal by Comstock, but George Washington answered to knot the score at one-all. The Midshipmen regained the lead thanks to Heller’s first score, but once again the Colonial found an answer to tie the game. With less than a minute remaining in the quarter, GW took its first lead going ahead, 3-2.
The Midshipmen began the second quarter with a Begin goal to even the game at three. Altmayer followed with his first goal of the contest to give the Mids a one-goal edge. The Colonials closed out the half with back-to-back goals to put the visitors in front.
George Washington opened the second half with a score to take its largest lead of the afternoon. Consecutive goals by Altmayer and Heller tied the score for the fifth time in the game. Following a GW goal, the Midshipmen once again knotted the score, using Heller’s third goal to tie the score at seven. The Colonials used back-to-back goals to regain a two-score advantage, but Heller’s third goal of the quarter pulled Navy to within one. George Washington scored before the end of the quarter to regain a two-goal edge.
In the fourth quarter, Altmayer pulled Navy to within one with a goal, but a GW goal pushed the margin back to two. Begin cut the deficit to one and Altmayer dented the back of the net to ultimately send the game into overtime, 11-11.
In the extra period, George Washington was the only team to register a goal, taking the 12-11 victory over Navy.
Release courtesy United States Naval Academy Athletics Communications
