Navy Water Polo Kicks Off 2024 Season at Home in the Navy Open

The Navy water polo team, ranked No. 18 in the nation, is gearing up for an exciting start to the 2024 season as they host the Navy Open this weekend. This highly anticipated tournament will take place from Saturday, September 7, through Sunday, September 8, and features five games for the Midshipmen. Navy will compete against 10 visiting teams, including Biola, Gannon, George Washington, Johns Hopkins, McKendree, Mercyhurst, Mount St. Mary's, Occidental, Princeton, and Salem.

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Busy Schedule for the Mids

The Midshipmen will hit the pool early on Saturday morning, beginning their season with a matchup against Salem at 9:15 a.m. This will be the first of three games they play on Saturday, with the second match at 2:15 p.m. against Gannon, and the final game of the day against Mount St. Mary’s at 6:00 p.m. The Mount St. Mary’s game is particularly important, as it’s a Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) matchup.

The action doesn’t stop there. Navy will play two more games on Sunday, starting with Biola at 9:15 a.m. and finishing the weekend against Occidental later that day. All of Navy’s games will be held at Lejeune Hall, and three of them—against Gannon, Biola, and Occidental—will be streamed live on YouTube, making it easy for fans to catch the action.

A Full Weekend of Water Polo

The Navy Open will feature 12 games on Saturday, with eight of them being played at Lejeune Hall and four at Scott Natatorium. On Sunday, Lejeune Hall will host seven of the nine total games. Fans attending the games should note that the US Naval Academy is closed to most vehicles without Department of Defense identification, so visitors are encouraged to park downtown and walk through the security gates. Adults must present photo identification to enter the premises.

Liam McInerney Named Team Captain

In preparation for the season, Navy head coach Luis Nicolao announced that senior Liam McInerney will be the team captain for 2024. McInerney, an Annapolis native, has been a key player for the Midshipmen throughout his college career. A three-time member of the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-Academic Team, he has played in 20 games, scoring four goals and providing four assists. In addition, McInerney has made important contributions on defense with four steals and three drawn ejections.

National Ranking and Strong 2023 Season

The Navy water polo team enters the 2024 season ranked 18th in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national poll. The Mids finished last season ranked 17th in both the CWPA and ACWPC polls, maintaining their position in the national rankings throughout the year. In 2023, the Midshipmen had a fantastic season, finishing with a 21-6 overall record, including a 9-3 mark in conference play. They ended the year as runners-up in the MAWPC, showcasing their competitiveness in a tough league.

Standout Performances in 2023

Last season, several Navy players earned national and conference honors. Navy attacker Kiefer Black and goalkeeper Caden Capobianco were named honorable mention All-Americans. This was Capobianco’s second All-American award, while Black became the first Navy freshman to earn All-American honors since Kyle Wertz in 2008. Additionally, Black was named the MAWPC Rookie of the Year, joining only two other Navy players who have ever received this prestigious title.

Three Navy players were also selected to the All-Conference team, with Black and Capobianco earning first-team honors and Aiden Day being named to the second team. Black led the team in goals, assists, and steals, making him one of Navy’s most important players. He scored 68 goals and tallied 57 assists, while Day added 42 goals to the Mids' offensive firepower.

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A Balanced Offense and Tough Defense

The Navy water polo team is known for its balanced scoring. In 2023, the Mids scored an impressive 372 goals across 27 games, averaging 13.8 goals per game. A total of 23 different players contributed to the scoring effort, highlighting the team’s depth and versatility. Aside from Black and Day, Sam Collingwood (37 goals) and Hayden Kahn (36 goals) were key contributors to the offense.

Defensively, Capobianco was a standout in goal, recording 237 saves and a save percentage of nearly 56%. His leadership and skills were crucial to the team’s success. Black also played a big role defensively, leading the team in steals among field players. Other defensive contributors included Holden Seybold, Jack Hightower, and Michael Heller, all of whom recorded double-digit steals.

Looking Ahead to 2024

As the 2024 season begins, Navy will once again face a challenging schedule. Last season, they played eight games against nationally ranked opponents, including a thrilling 10-9 win over No. 9 Long Beach State. The team is looking to build on the momentum from their successful 2023 campaign and make a push for the conference championship.

With a strong group of returning players, a solid defensive foundation, and a high-powered offense led by Black, the Midshipmen are poised for another exciting season. The Navy Open will serve as the perfect opportunity to kick off their 2024 journey in front of their home crowd. Fans and supporters will be eager to see how the Mids perform and whether they can carry their success into this new season.