No. 20 United States Naval Academy Stops Bucknell University in Sudden Victory Overtime, 14-13, for Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Win
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Tied 13-13 in sudden-death overtime, senior Michael Heller scored the golden goal to lift No. 20-ranked the United States Naval Academy to a 14-13 victory over Bucknell University at home in Lejeune Hall.
“That was exciting,” head coach Luis Nicolao said after the game. “Mike came through for us in a big way with a huge goal in overtime. That being said, I don’t think you can say enough about the effort that Munch put out today at goal, especially in overtime. He came up with some big saves that kept us in the game.
“Every game that we play now is important and conference games are always a battle. Two overtime games in the last two days and a one-goal game on Friday just shows you that you have to bring your best to the pool every game.”
Defensively, Ryan Munch worked a complete game at goal, picking up his second win in as many days. The freshman recorded 20 saves between the posts, including six during the overtime periods. Munch was able to deflect three penalty shots, including one in extra time. His 20 saves were three shy of tying the Navy school record that was set by All-America selection Caden Capobianco ’24 against George Washington University in 2021.
Offensively, Kiefer Black led the team with five goals, including going three-for-three on penalty shots. Orion Erwin, Billy Zech and Heller each added two goals apiece with no goal being bigger than Heller’s game-winning goal. Maddox Garrahy, Austin Kahn and Holden Seybold rounded out the scoring with one goal each.
Bucknell was the first team to scratch the scoreboard, taking an early 1-0 lead. Navy responded as Black converted a penalty shot to even the score. The Bison used a pair of goals on penalty shots to take a 3-1 advantage, but back-to-back goals by Kahn and Heller tied the game at three-all through eight minutes of play.
In the second quarter, the two teams exchanged goals. Bucknell regained the lead, but it was short lived as Black converted his second five-meter attempt of the game. The Bison took a one-goal lead, but Erwin powered his way into the heart of the defense for a goal in front of the cage to send the game into halftime locked at 5-5.
Navy was able to take it first lead of the game in the third quarter. Following a Bucknell goal, the Midshipmen used a penalty shot from Seybold to tie the game at six. Garrahy and Zech scored back-to-back goals from the center position to give the Mids an 8-6 lead. The Bison scored to cut the margin to one, but Zech redirected a pass from Kahn into the net to push the advantage back to two, 9-7. Bucknell once again trimmed the margin to one, but Black scored as time expired in the quarter to put Navy in front 10-8 through three quarters of play.
Bucknell used a 3-1 fourth quarter to force overtime. The Bison scored to cut the margin to one, but Erwin countered with a goal to increase the Mids’ advantage back to two scores. Bucknell was able to lean on its defense to keep Navy out of the net down the stretch, ultimately scoring two goals to send the game into overtime.
The Bison won the first sprint of overtime and took advantage, scoring a goal to go ahead 12-11. Black scored his third five-meter goal of the game to knot the game at a dozen. After the two teams switched sides of the pool, Bucknell once again took a one-goal advantage, but Black locked the game up at 13-13 with his fifth score of the day.
In the sudden-death overtime period, the Midshipmen won the opening sprint. The team was unable to score, but Munch came up big deflecting a pair of Bison shots to keep the game even at 13-13. After the two teams switched sides of the pool, the Mids worked the ball around until Seybold found Heller at center. Heller was able to push past defenders and slip the ball past the keeper to give Navy the 14-13 victory
Release courtesy United States Naval Academy Athletics Communications
