Quinn Bartlett Scores Five as No. 17 Navy Water Polo Defeats George Washington 19-15 to Open Homestand
By Brian Hradsky
October 27, 2026
The No. 17 Navy men’s water polo team defeated George Washington 19-15 on Friday, October 23, at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, opening a six-game homestand with an important Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference victory. Junior attacker Quinn Bartlett scored a team-high five goals, including four during the fourth quarter, as the Midshipmen pulled away from a determined Revolutionaries squad. Freshman Declan Bartlett contributed three goals and four assists, while senior Luka Sekulic added three goals and two assists. The victory improved Navy to 16-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play, while George Washington dropped to 10-10 overall and 1-4 in the MAWPC.
Navy Opens Homestand With Important Conference Victory
Navy returned to Annapolis following an extended stretch of road competition, playing at home for the first time since September 6. The Midshipmen entered the weekend with 15 victories and an opportunity to strengthen their position among the conference’s leading programs. George Washington presented a familiar challenge after defeating Navy in the semifinals of the 2025 MAWPC Championship. Friday’s matchup provided an opportunity for the Midshipmen to earn another conference victory against a competitive opponent.
The Revolutionaries arrived having experienced a difficult stretch of conference competition, but they demonstrated early that they could challenge Navy’s defense. Both teams exchanged goals throughout the opening three quarters, with neither side able to establish a substantial advantage. Navy repeatedly moved ahead before George Washington responded with another scoring opportunity. The closely contested opening created the foundation for a dramatic fourth-quarter finish.
Head coach Luis Nicolao acknowledged that Navy’s defensive performance needed improvement, particularly during the opening half. George Washington scored 10 goals before halftime, preventing the Midshipmen from establishing a comfortable lead despite their offensive production. Navy responded by allowing only five goals during the final two quarters. That improvement gave the offense an opportunity to secure the victory.
Midshipmen Establish Narrow First-Quarter Lead
Senior Kiefer Black opened the scoring to give Navy a 1-0 advantage during the first quarter. George Washington quickly responded, establishing the back-and-forth pattern that characterized much of the contest. Declan Bartlett scored twice during the opening period, helping the Midshipmen maintain their advantage against the Revolutionaries. However, George Washington continued finding opportunities to equalize.
Connor Cashman restored Navy’s lead after George Washington tied the contest, while freshman Colin McPhail followed with another goal. The consecutive scores extended the Midshipmen’s advantage to 5-3 and created an opportunity to establish early momentum. George Washington responded with another goal before the quarter ended, reducing the deficit to one. Navy entered the second period holding a 5-4 advantage.
The opening quarter demonstrated Navy’s offensive depth, with several different players contributing to the scoring. Black, Declan Bartlett, Cashman and McPhail all found the net during the first eight minutes. However, the Midshipmen struggled to prevent George Washington from generating quality opportunities. Navy needed stronger defensive execution to protect its narrow lead.
George Washington Keeps Pressure on Navy Before Halftime
George Washington opened the second quarter by tying the contest at 5-5, forcing Navy to respond again. Sekulic restored the Midshipmen’s advantage with a goal, but the Revolutionaries quickly produced another equalizer. Declan Bartlett then completed his first-half hat trick, giving Navy a 7-6 lead. The teams continued exchanging goals as neither defense could consistently control the contest.
Sophomore Jack Reif extended Navy’s advantage to 8-6 before George Washington converted a five-meter penalty opportunity. Black and Aiden Day followed with consecutive goals, giving the Midshipmen a three-goal cushion. However, the Revolutionaries responded with another score and prevented Navy from maintaining the larger advantage. Quinn Bartlett added his first goal of the evening before George Washington produced two late goals.
Navy entered halftime leading 11-10 after an offensively productive but defensively inconsistent opening half. The Midshipmen had scored 11 goals and received contributions from several players, yet George Washington remained within striking distance. Nicolao’s team needed to improve its defensive positioning and reduce the Revolutionaries’ scoring opportunities. The second half would test Navy’s ability to make those adjustments.
Defensive Improvement Keeps Navy Ahead in Third Quarter
The third quarter produced a more disciplined defensive performance from the Midshipmen. Navy limited George Washington to two goals after allowing 10 during the opening half. The Revolutionaries continued challenging the home team, but Navy prevented them from taking control of the contest. The improved defensive effort helped preserve the Midshipmen’s narrow advantage.
Aiden Berry and Sekulic supplied Navy’s two third-quarter goals as the teams exchanged scores. Neither side could establish a decisive advantage, leaving the outcome uncertain entering the final period. Navy’s offense remained productive enough to protect the lead, while the defense demonstrated improvement. The Midshipmen entered the fourth quarter ahead 13-12.
The one-goal advantage created significant pressure because George Washington had repeatedly responded whenever Navy attempted to pull away. The Midshipmen needed a decisive offensive stretch to establish separation. Quinn Bartlett provided that breakthrough during the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. His performance completely changed the momentum of the contest.
Quinn Bartlett Takes Over in Fourth Quarter
Bartlett delivered the game’s defining performance by scoring three consecutive goals to open the fourth quarter. The junior attacker transformed Navy’s 13-12 advantage into a 16-12 lead, giving the Midshipmen their largest cushion of the evening. The individual 3-0 scoring run provided the separation Navy had struggled to establish throughout the first three quarters. George Washington suddenly faced a four-goal deficit.
The Revolutionaries ended Bartlett’s scoring run with a goal, but Day responded by converting a five-meter penalty opportunity. Navy regained its four-goal advantage at 17-13 and continued controlling the final period. The teams exchanged additional goals during the closing stages, with Sekulic and Bartlett providing Navy’s final two scores. The Midshipmen completed the 19-15 victory after outscoring George Washington 6-3 in the fourth quarter.
Bartlett finished with five goals and an assist for six points, leading Navy’s scoring attack. Four of his goals came during the final quarter, demonstrating his ability to deliver in important moments. His three consecutive goals provided the decisive scoring run and prevented George Washington from completing another comeback. The performance highlighted his importance to Navy’s offense during a demanding conference matchup.
Bartlett Brothers Combine for 13 Points
The Bartlett brothers produced one of Navy’s most impressive combined performances of the season. Quinn finished with six points on five goals and an assist, while Declan recorded seven points through three goals and four assists. Their combined 13 points accounted for a substantial portion of Navy’s offensive production. Both players contributed during important stretches of the contest.
Declan established his offensive impact during the opening half, scoring three goals while George Washington repeatedly challenged Navy’s advantage. His four assists also demonstrated his ability to create opportunities for teammates. The freshman finished as Navy’s leading point producer despite Quinn scoring more goals. Their complementary performances helped the Midshipmen maintain offensive consistency.
Quinn delivered his strongest contributions when Navy needed them most, taking over during the fourth quarter. His ability to finish scoring opportunities created separation after three closely contested periods. The brothers’ combined production demonstrated the depth of Navy’s attacking options. Their continued development could become especially important during the conference tournament.
Sekulic and Black Provide Important Support
Sekulic contributed five points through three goals and two assists, providing another productive performance for Navy. The senior scored during the second, third and fourth quarters, helping the Midshipmen maintain their advantage throughout the contest. His offensive versatility allowed him to contribute both as a scorer and distributor. Navy benefited from his experience during several important possessions.
Black finished with six points on two goals and four assists, matching Declan Bartlett for the team lead in assists. The senior entered the weekend as Navy’s career leader in points and assists, having already surpassed 500 career points earlier in October. His passing helped create opportunities for several teammates during Friday’s victory. The performance added another productive outing to his accomplished collegiate career.
Day also contributed four points through two goals and two assists, including an important fourth-quarter penalty conversion. Berry, Cashman, McPhail and Reif each scored once to complete Navy’s balanced attack. Nine different Midshipmen found the net, with five players scoring multiple goals. The depth of the offense helped Navy withstand George Washington’s persistent pressure.
Ryan Munch Makes Nine Saves in Victory
Junior goalkeeper Ryan Munch played the entire contest and finished with nine saves and one steal. Although George Washington scored 10 times during the opening half, Munch and Navy’s defensive unit improved after halftime. The Revolutionaries managed only five goals during the final two quarters. That improvement provided the foundation for Navy’s decisive fourth-quarter run.
The defensive adjustments were particularly important because the Midshipmen had struggled to establish separation despite scoring consistently. Navy could not rely exclusively on offensive production against a George Washington team capable of answering nearly every goal. Stronger defensive positioning helped reduce the Revolutionaries’ opportunities during the closing stages. Munch’s performance contributed to that improvement.
Nicolao emphasized the importance of Navy’s second-half defensive response after the contest. The coaching staff recognized that allowing 10 first-half goals created unnecessary pressure on the offense. However, the Midshipmen demonstrated the ability to make adjustments and protect their advantage. That resilience helped secure the four-goal victory.
Navy Strengthens Conference Position
The victory improved Navy to 16-4 overall and 5-1 in MAWPC competition, continuing a strong 2026 campaign. The Midshipmen have demonstrated the ability to generate significant offensive production against conference opponents while receiving contributions throughout their roster. Their success has also been supported by experienced players and developing younger contributors. Friday’s result provided another important conference victory.
George Washington fell to 10-10 overall and 1-4 in conference play after another closely contested matchup. The Revolutionaries demonstrated offensive resilience by remaining within one goal through three quarters. However, they could not contain Quinn Bartlett during the decisive final period. The defeat continued a difficult conference stretch for George Washington.
The matchup also carried additional significance because George Washington eliminated Navy from the previous season’s MAWPC Championship. Friday’s victory did not erase that postseason disappointment, but it provided an encouraging result against a familiar opponent. The Midshipmen demonstrated their ability to respond when the contest remained close. Their fourth-quarter execution ultimately separated the teams.
Midshipmen Face No. 5 Fordham in Major Conference Test
Navy’s next contest came Sunday, October 25, against No. 5 Fordham at Lejeune Hall. The Rams entered the weekend as one of the nation’s strongest programs and the leading team in the MAWPC. The matchup presented a major test of Navy’s ability to compete against nationally ranked opposition. The Midshipmen needed a more complete defensive performance than they produced against George Washington.
Fordham entered the weekend with an extended conference winning streak, demonstrating remarkable consistency against MAWPC opponents. Navy’s offensive depth provided opportunities to challenge the Rams, but defensive execution remained essential. The Midshipmen could not afford to surrender another 10-goal first half against an opponent with Fordham’s scoring ability. The coaching staff needed to build on the adjustments made during Friday’s victory.
Navy subsequently suffered a narrow 14-13 defeat against Fordham, leaving the Midshipmen at 16-5 overall and 5-2 in conference play following the weekend. The team will continue its homestand Sunday, November 1, against Mercyhurst and Bucknell. Those matchups provide opportunities to strengthen Navy’s conference position. Maintaining offensive production while improving defensive consistency will remain important priorities.
MSB Take
Navy’s 19-15 victory over George Washington was an encouraging result because the Midshipmen demonstrated the ability to finish a competitive conference matchup with a decisive scoring run. Quinn Bartlett deserves considerable recognition for scoring five goals, including three consecutive goals to open the fourth quarter. His performance changed the contest from a one-goal game into a four-goal advantage. The junior delivered when Navy needed a player to take control.
The offensive depth was another positive development, with nine Midshipmen scoring and five recording multiple goals. Declan Bartlett contributed seven points, while Black added six and Sekulic finished with five. Those performances demonstrate that Navy has several players capable of creating scoring opportunities rather than relying on one attacker. That balance should help the Midshipmen remain competitive against strong conference opponents.
The biggest concern remains Navy’s defensive consistency, particularly after allowing 10 goals during the opening half. George Washington repeatedly erased or reduced Navy’s advantages, forcing the Midshipmen to maintain a high scoring pace. The second-half improvement was encouraging, but the defense must perform more consistently against nationally ranked opponents. If Navy combines its offensive depth with stronger defensive execution, the Midshipmen have an opportunity to challenge for the MAWPC championship.
