Non Sibi Sed Patriae: No. 17 United States Naval Academy Retains Freedom Vase by Outlasting the United States Air Force Academy in Sudden Victory, 19-18

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The No. 17-ranked United States Naval Academy water polo team improved to 7-2 on the season by outlasting host the United States Air Force Academy in sudden-victory overtime, 19-18, in a back and forth contest on the first day of the Rare Air Challenge to retain possession of the Freedom Vase. Knotted at 18-18, freshman Maddox Garrahy gave the Midshipmen a one-goal victory over their rivals with his fifth goal of the game.

“What an incredible game,” head coach Luis Nicolao exclaimed post-game. “It was back and forth the whole night. Neither team could put the game away. We had a lot of young players step up tonight and score some big goals. None was as big as Maddox’s goal though to give us the win. Every year this rivalry gets more and more intense and it makes it that much sweeter when you are able to come out with a win. I am so proud of these guys!”

Navy was led by its youth throughout the game. The Midshipmen’s underclassmen combined for 16 of the 19 goals scored, including Garrahy’s game-winning goal. Garrahy finished with a team-high five goals, while freshman Quinn Bartlett (3 goals) and sophomores Kiefer Black (three goals) and Luka Sekulic (three goals) each added hat tricks. Freshman Orion Erwin and sophomore Billy Zech rounded out the underclassmen scoring with one goal apiece, while senior Michael Heller and junior Holden Seybold had two goals and one goal, respectively, for the upperclassmen.

At goal, freshman Jack Rodoni earned the victory. The rookie relieved starter Jack Hightower at halftime and worked the second half and overtime periods. Rodoni finished the game with nine stops while Hightower notched five saves. Hightower led the team with three stealsn while Seybold and freshman Matt Mai-Prasarnsuk added two takeaways apiece.

In the first quarter, the Falcons got out to a quick 1-0 lead. Sekulic answered with a goal to knot the game at one apiece. Seybold gave Navy its first lead of the game with a goal, but Air Force countered with back-to-back scores. For the second time in the quarter, Sekulic found the back of the net to tie the game once again. The home team regained the lead but Garrahy scored the equalizer to send the game into the second quarter knotted at 4-4.

Sekulic completed his hat trick to start the second quarter, giving Navy a one-goal advantage. The Falcons responded with consecutive scores to regain the lead, 6-5, but Black scored his first goal of the evening to once again tie the game. Garrahy gave the Midshipmen a one-goal lead, 7-6. Air Force regained the advantage with a pair of goals, but Bartlett tied the game at 8-8. The Falcons used a five-meter opportunity to retake the lead and go into halftime in front, 9-8.

In the second half, Air Force pushed its lead to 10-8 – the largest lead for either team to that point. Heller cut the deficit in half with a goal. Zech followed with the equalizer off of a feed from Bartlett to even the score at 10-10.

The two teams traded goals in the fourth quarter with both squads finding the back of the net four times. The Falcons led off the quarter with a goal, but back-to-back scores by Garrahy and Erwin gave the Midshipmen a 12-11 advantage. Air Force tied the game at a dozen, but Bartlett answered with a goal to give Navy the lead again. After the home team tied the score at 13-13, Heller gave the Mids a one-goal edge. With 30 seconds remaining in regulation and the shot clock expiring, Air Force tied the game with a long shot. The Midshipmen’s shot attempt as time expired was blocked sending the game into overtime.

In the first half of overtime, Garrahy and Bartlett gave Navy a two-goal edge – the Mids’ largest lead of the night. Air Force was able to tie the game at 16 heading into the second half of ovetime. After the two teams changed ends of the pool, Black made two penalty shots to give the Midshipmen an 18-16 advantage. The Falcons scored two goals within a minute to tie the game and force sudden-death overtime.

To start the additional period, Navy won the sprint to control possession. The Mids worked the ball around and Black found Garrahy in front of the net and the freshman buried the ball in the back of the net to give the Midshipmen the 19-18 win.

Release courtesy United States Naval Academy Athletics Communications