ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The United States Naval Academy water polo team began 2022 season competition by splitting a pair of games on the first day of the annual Navy Open at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, Md. The Midshipmen had nine players combine for a dozen goals in a 12-7 victory over Biola University to start the day. In the night cap, a ten-save effort by Caden Capobianco (Laguna Beach, Calif.) fell short as the Mids were edged 7-5 by No. 11-ranked Princeton University.
“Today was a good start to the season,” said head coach Luis Nicolao. “We are not where we need to be yet, but are battling hard and playing good team water polo. I am proud of the team’s effort today. Against Biola, we were able to share the ball and get a lot of players involved in the action. Princeton was a tough one. We fought hard, but came up a little short. There is no time to dwell on either game as we are right back in the pool tomorrow for two more games.”
In goal, Capobianco finished the day with 16 saves with 12 goals allowed, while contributing eight steals and three assists on the day. The junior started the day with six saves, four steals and three assists in three quarters against Biola. In the night cap, Capobianco had 10 saves and four steals against nationally-ranked Princeton.
Freshman Jack Hightower (San Diego, Calif.) made his collegiate debut against Biola, working the final quarter against the Eagles. The rookie allowed a pair of goals, while registering three steals.
Offensively, nine different players found the back of the net on the day. Will Clark (Laguna Beach, Calif.) and Tommy McKnew (Tiburon, Calif.) paced the offensive attack with four goals apiece, while Michael Heller (Menlo Park, Calif.) chipped in three scores. Capobianco led the team with three assists, while Heller, Ivan Pang (El Monte, Calif.) and Connor Simpson (San Rafael, Calif.) contributed two helpers each.
Facing Biola, the Mids jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to goals by Peter Hillen (Orinda, Calif.), Heller, Clark and Danny Taylor (Riverside, Conn.). Payton Comstock (Clarendon Hills, Ill.) closed out the scoring in the first quarter to put the Midshipmen ahead 5-1. Navy outscored Biola, 4-3, in the second quarter thanks to goals by Graham Lindner (Bel Air, Md.), Heller, Nathan Duchez (San Jose, Calif.) and Clark to take a 9-4 advantage into halftime.
In the third quarter, McKnew netted a pair of goals to go alone with Jacques Dutton (Yorba Linda, Calif.) first collegiate goal to give Navy a 12-5 lead. Biola netted a pair of goals in the fourth quarter to provide the final margin of 12-7.
In the second game of the day, Navy battled hard, but came up just short against No. 11 Princeton.
Clark opened the scoring with the only goal of the first quarter. Princeton scored three in the second, but McKnew found the back of the net twice to keep the game tied 3-3 at the half.
Heller gave the Midshipmen a 4-3 lead in the third quarter. Following a Princeton goal, Clark gave Navy a 5-4 advantage. In the fourth quarter, the nationally-ranked Tigers used a 3-0 run to take the lead and hold on for a 7-5 victory over the Midshipmen.
Release courtesy United States Naval Academy Athletics Communications
