ANNAPOLIS, Md. -– The United States Naval Academy water polo team jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, posting a 14-8 victory over No. 17-ranked George Washington University at home in Scott Natatorium.
“Tonight was fun,” head coach Luis Nicolao said after the game. “We played about as good of a game as I have seen us play this year. We are clicking at the right time. We had a bunch of former players in attendance so it was nice to pick up such a big victory in front of such a great crowd. We have our alumni game tomorrow morning so Mike (Mulvey), (Tom) Popp, and I will break out the Speedos and get in the pool for a little healthy competition of our own.”
Offensively, the Midshipmen scored 14 goals on the night. Nine different players scored goals with Isaac Salinas (Spring City, Pa.) leading the way with his 16th hat trick of the season. Aside from Salinas’ three goals, Jake Altmayer (Pasadena, Calif.), Andrew Shashin (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) and Jack Weggeland (Riverside, Calif.) added two goals apiece.
Defensively, Max Sandberg (Newport Beach, Calif.) recorded 12 saves, while surrendering five goals in the win. It was the fifth time in Sandberg’s career that he has recorded double-digit saves. He was relieved late in the game by senior captain Ronan Williams (Severna Park, Md.), who notched a save in roughly six minutes of action.
Navy started the game with a goal by Salinas less than 30 seconds into the game. George Washington answered, but the Mids responded with three consecutive goals by Shashin, Altmayer, and Merle Richman (La Jolla, Calif.). GW closed out the first quarter with a goal to close the gap to 4-2.
In the second quarter, the Midshipmen doubled their advantage. Salinas once again opened the scoring with his second goal of the game. Weggeland followed by following the back of the net. After a Colonial goal, Salinas completed the hat trick with his third goal. Nate Reiff (Wheeling, Ill.) pushed the advantage to five goals, 8-3, with a goal. George Washington scored to finish the first half with Navy in front, 8-4.
In the third quarter, it was all Navy. The Midshipmen outscored the Colonials 3-0 in the quarter. Weggeland posted his second score of the game to start the scoring. Peter Hillen (Orinda, Calif.) fired one past the goal for a score. Bobby Lee (Santa Ana, Calif.) closed out the scoring in the third quarter with a goal off an assist by Sandberg.
Altmayer slipped one past the goalie for his second goal of the game to start the fourth quarter. George Washington used a 3-0 run to close the gap to 12-7. Shashin and Tiernan Brunner (Timonium, Md.) ended the GW run with back-to-back goals, pushing the advantage to seven. George Washington scored one final goal to provide the final margin of 14-8.
Release courtesy United States Naval Academy Athletics Communications
