ANNAPOLIS/BALTIMORE, Md. — The United States Naval Academy water polo team won a pair of Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC). The Midshipmen opened the day with a 17-11 victory over Wagner College in Annapolis at Lejeune Hall before defeating Division III No. 10 Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, 16-8.
“Today was a good bounce back after a tough game yesterday,” said Navy head coach Luis Nicolao. “We were able to put up some points, play some solid defense, and come away with a pair of wins. There are still things to clean up, but I am proud of how we performed today.”
Offensively, 14 different Mids combined to score 33 goals on the day. Kiefer Black led the way, tallying 14 points on a team-high eight goals and team-best six assists. He was followed by Michael Heller and Austin Kahn who added five points apiece. Heller scored four goals with an assist, while Kahn netted two goals with three helpers. Luka Sekulic scored four goals, while Orion Erwin notched his four points with four assists. Quinn Bartlett registered four points on three goals and an assist, while Seybold was the opposite of Bartlett with four points on a goal and three helpers. Rory Begin chipped in a goal and two assists for three points, while Sam Collingwood (two goals), Henry Williams (two goals), Billy Zech (two goals), and Maddox Garrahy (one goal, one assist) each finished with two points. Jack Clark, Matt Mai-Prasarnsuk and Alejandro Schmidt Corujo notched solo goals with Ryan Munch finishing the day with an assist.
On defense, Navy finished with 19 goals allowed and 37 steals. Munch finished with 13 saves and eight steals in just under two games. Jack Rodoni and Francis Hendrickson both finished with a stop each.
Navy opened the day with a 17-11 win over Wagner at Lejeune Hall. The Mids used solid defense and effective offense to secure the victory.
In the first quarter, the Midshipmen jumped out to a 6-3 lead. Williams started the scoring, but the Seahawks were able to tie the game at 1-1. Navy regained the lead with back-to-back goals by Sekulic. However, Wagner was able to lock the score at three with a pair of scores. The Midshipmen once again regained the advantage as Kahn powered his way inside for the go-ahead score. Garrahy followed with a goal just in front of the cage. With time expiring, Black launched a ball the full length of the pool that got over the head of the goalkeeper to score as time expired and extend the advantage to three, 6-3.
The second quarter saw the Mids increase their advantage to 10-3 with a 4-0 run. For the second consecutive quarter, Williams got things started for Navy, burying his second goal of the game in the back of the net. Heller dunked the ball in front of the cage for his first score. Following a penalty, Black converted a five-meter opportunity and Bartlett ended the scoring with a goal to push the Mids’ lead to seven.
The two teams matched one another in the third quarter. Wagner converted a penalty shot, but Seybold extended the advantage back to seven goals. The Seahawks once again trimmed the margin to six, but Heller countered with a goal on a penalty shot. Begin extended the lead to eight. Following a Wagner goal, Sekulic completed his hat trick with a goal to once again push the Navy advantage to eight. The Seahawks were able to find the back of the net before the end of the quarter to head into the fourth with the Mids in front 14-7.
The Mids scored three goals in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. Heller, Black, and Zech each found the back of the net to offset four goals scored by the Seahawks to secure the 17-11 victory.
Navy ended the day with its second victory of the day, downing Johns Hopkins, 16-8, at the Newton White Athletic Center – Natatorium in Baltimore.
The Midshipmen opened the game with a 3-0 run as Black, Mai-Prasarnsuk, and Sekulic netted first-quarter goals. The Blue Jays stopped the run with a goal to send the game into the second quarter with the Mids in front, 3-1.
Navy extended its lead to five goals in the second quarter. Black and Bartlett both scored before Hopkins was able to sneak one past the goalie. Zech pushed the lead back to four, 6-2. Johns Hopkins netted a goal, but Collingwood countered with back-to-back scores and Seybold dented the back of the net to extend the advantage to 9-3. The home team trimmed the margin to 9-4 before halftime.
In the third quarter, the two teams exchanged goals. Kahn and Bartlett each scored, countering a pair of goals by the Blue Jays, ending the period with the Mids in front 11-6.
Navy wrapped up the contest by winning the fourth quarter 5-2 over Johns Hopkins. Black scored to push the lead to six, but Hopkins countered with a goal. Heller, Black, and Clark extended the advantage to eight at 15-7. After a Blue Jays’ goal, Schmidt Corujo provided the final margin with his first goal of the season.
Release courtesy United States Naval Academy Athletics Communications
