Kiefer Black Scores Five, Climbs Navy Record Book as No. 17 Water Polo Falls to No. 5 Fordham 14-13
By Brian Hradsky
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — No. 5 Fordham 14, No. 17 Navy 13.
The 17th-ranked Navy men’s water polo team pushed fifth-ranked Fordham to the final seconds Sunday morning, but the Midshipmen suffered a heartbreaking 14-13 defeat at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis. Navy erased a two-goal fourth-quarter deficit and tied the contest at 13 before Fordham freshman Karlo Dragosevic scored the winning goal with just 16 seconds remaining. Senior attacker Kiefer Black delivered five goals and moved into second place on Navy’s all-time career goals list, giving the Midshipmen a historic individual performance despite the loss. The result dropped Navy to 16-5 overall and 5-2 in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference competition.
Fordham entered the matchup as one of the nation’s premier programs, carrying a national ranking of No. 5 and an undefeated conference record. Navy had already faced the Rams earlier in October, losing 16-13 in the Bronx, and hoped to reverse that result on its home floor. The rematch developed into a dramatic contest featuring multiple lead changes, impressive individual performances and a decisive goal in the closing seconds. Although Navy could not complete the upset, the Midshipmen demonstrated their ability to compete against a nationally ranked opponent.
Navy Starts Fast and Builds First-Quarter Lead
Navy wasted little time establishing its offensive presence against Fordham. Black opened the scoring on the Midshipmen’s first possession, firing the ball past the Rams’ goalkeeper to give Navy an early advantage. Fordham answered to tie the contest at one, but Aiden Day restored the home team’s lead with another goal. Freshman Declan Bartlett then scored late in the opening period to send Navy into the second quarter with a 3-1 advantage.
The strong start represented an encouraging response from the Midshipmen after their earlier defeat against Fordham. Navy attacked with confidence, converted its early opportunities and prevented the Rams from establishing the offensive rhythm that had helped them build an outstanding record. The two-goal advantage also demonstrated the importance of starting quickly against elite competition. However, the visitors would soon answer with a significant offensive surge.
Fordham scored the opening goal of the second quarter to reduce Navy’s lead to 3-2. Black and Aiden Berry responded with consecutive goals, extending the Midshipmen’s advantage to 5-2. That three-goal cushion represented Navy’s largest lead of the first half and placed Fordham under considerable pressure. The Rams nevertheless recovered by scoring four unanswered goals to take a 6-5 lead into halftime.
Fordham junior Andras Toth played a central role in the visitors’ comeback, scoring three times during the second quarter. The Rams’ five-goal period completely reversed the momentum Navy had established during the opening eight minutes. Instead of carrying a lead into the break, the Midshipmen found themselves trailing by one. The sequence illustrated how quickly Fordham could capitalize when Navy’s defensive execution slipped.
Kiefer Black Takes Over in Third Quarter
Navy returned from halftime determined to regain control, and Black immediately delivered another important goal. His third score of the contest tied the game at six, restoring the energy that had carried the Midshipmen through the opening period. Black followed with another goal to give Navy a 7-6 advantage. The senior attacker had become the driving force behind the home team’s offense.
Fordham answered with two consecutive goals to reclaim an 8-7 lead. Navy again turned to Black, who scored his third goal of the quarter and fifth of the game to tie the contest at eight. The Rams briefly moved ahead 9-8, but Quinn Bartlett answered during the closing seconds of the period. His goal sent the teams into the fourth quarter tied at 9-9.
The third quarter demonstrated Navy’s resilience against one of the strongest opponents on its schedule. Each time Fordham appeared ready to seize control, the Midshipmen found another response. Black’s scoring performance was particularly significant because it combined immediate competitive impact with an important career milestone. His fifth goal ultimately helped move him past one of the most accomplished scorers in Navy history.
Black Moves Into Second Place in Navy Scoring History
Black entered the weekend ranked third in Navy history with 267 career goals. He scored twice against George Washington on Friday before adding five more against Fordham, increasing his career total to 274. That production moved him past Doug Munz, who previously occupied second place with 273 goals. Black now trails only Navy head coach Luis Nicolao, who scored 282 goals during his own collegiate career.
The achievement places Black among the most productive offensive players in the history of Navy men’s water polo. His ability to score five times against the nation’s fifth-ranked team made the milestone even more impressive. Rather than accumulating goals against an overmatched opponent, Black delivered his historic performance during one of Navy’s most demanding conference contests. His production kept the Midshipmen within striking distance throughout the afternoon.
Nicolao praised Black’s achievement following the game, recognizing the significance of joining the program’s all-time greats. The Navy coach also acknowledged the connection between the current roster and former Midshipmen who returned for the program’s alumni activities over the weekend. Black’s accomplishment added another chapter to that history while bringing him within eight goals of tying Nicolao’s school record. With additional games remaining on the schedule, the senior has an opportunity to continue climbing the program’s record book.
Fordham Builds Fourth-Quarter Lead
The fourth quarter opened with Fordham breaking the 9-9 tie. Declan Bartlett quickly answered for Navy, bringing the score to 10-10 and keeping the contest balanced. The Rams then scored twice in succession to establish a 12-10 advantage. Navy faced another difficult situation as the clock continued moving toward the final minutes.
Jack Reif scored to reduce the deficit to one, but Fordham responded with another goal to restore its two-goal advantage at 13-11. The Midshipmen refused to allow the visitors to pull away, continuing to attack and search for opportunities. Day delivered his second goal of the contest to make it 13-12. Declan Bartlett then completed his hat trick, tying the game at 13 with 1:09 remaining.
The equalizer represented another impressive response from Navy against a nationally ranked opponent. After trailing by two goals late in the contest, the Midshipmen had battled back to put themselves in position to force overtime or potentially steal the victory. The home crowd had witnessed a determined comeback powered by contributions from several players. However, Fordham still had time to create one final scoring opportunity.
Fordham Wins With 16 Seconds Remaining
Fordham delivered the decisive blow when Dragosevic scored with 16 seconds remaining in regulation. His goal broke the 13-13 tie and restored the Rams’ one-goal advantage. Navy received one final possession with an opportunity to extend the game, but an errant pass allowed Fordham to steal the ball. The visitors maintained possession through the closing seconds and escaped Annapolis with a 14-13 victory.
The ending was especially frustrating because Navy had repeatedly demonstrated its ability to respond under pressure. The Midshipmen had erased multiple Fordham leads and appeared capable of matching the Rams throughout the final period. Their late comeback had created an opportunity to earn one of the program’s most significant victories of the season. Instead, the final possession ended before Navy could generate a quality scoring attempt.
Fordham’s victory reinforced its standing as the conference’s leading team and ultimately helped the Rams secure the No. 1 seed for the upcoming MAWPC Championship. The Rams also defeated George Washington 21-10 later Sunday, completing a successful weekend in Annapolis. Navy remained one of the conference’s strongest challengers despite suffering its second defeat against Fordham this season. The narrow margin illustrated how competitive a potential postseason rematch could become.
Ryan Munch Delivers 15 Saves Against Elite Competition
While Black led Navy’s offensive effort, goalkeeper Ryan Munch produced another important performance in the cage. The junior played the entire contest and finished with 15 saves and one steal. His contributions helped prevent Fordham from building a larger advantage during several stretches of the game. Facing one of the nation’s most productive offensive teams, Munch provided the Midshipmen with opportunities to remain competitive.
Navy received goals from six different players in the defeat. Black led the team with five, followed by Declan Bartlett with three and Day with two. Quinn Bartlett, Berry and Reif each contributed one goal to complete the Midshipmen’s scoring. The balanced contributions outside Black’s performance helped Navy maintain offensive pressure against a talented Fordham defense.
Fordham received an outstanding seven-goal performance from Toth, who accounted for half of the Rams’ scoring. Dragosevic added two goals, including the decisive winner, while goalkeeper Viktor Savic recorded 14 saves. The individual performances helped Fordham survive a demanding road contest. Navy’s ability to produce 13 goals against Savic and the Rams’ defense nevertheless provided encouraging evidence of its offensive capabilities.
Navy Continues Challenging Nationally Ranked Opponents
Sunday’s narrow defeat added another chapter to Navy’s demanding 2026 schedule. The Midshipmen previously suffered a 16-13 loss at Fordham on October 10 before returning home for the rematch. Their latest performance reduced the margin against the Rams to a single goal and demonstrated improvement in a difficult matchup. Navy also entered the contest having defeated George Washington 19-15 on Friday, highlighting its ability to produce strong offensive performances against conference opponents.
The Midshipmen have repeatedly challenged nationally ranked competition this season. Earlier victories against Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount demonstrated their ability to defeat talented opponents outside the MAWPC. Navy also pushed UC Irvine in a narrow 11-10 defeat during its September trip to California. Those results suggest the Midshipmen possess the talent necessary to compete with highly ranked teams when their execution remains consistent.
However, Sunday’s loss also exposed areas Navy must improve before postseason competition. Fordham scored four unanswered goals during the second quarter and capitalized on its final possession to secure the victory. Navy’s offense produced enough opportunities to remain competitive, but the Midshipmen could not prevent the Rams from delivering decisive scoring runs. Reducing those stretches of defensive inconsistency will be essential against championship-caliber opponents.
Brian’s Take: Navy Proves It Belongs Against the Nation’s Best
Navy’s 14-13 defeat was disappointing, but the performance offered several reasons for optimism. The Midshipmen challenged the fifth-ranked team in the country, erased multiple deficits and nearly forced overtime against a program that has dominated conference competition. Black’s five-goal performance was outstanding, particularly because it came during a historic moment in his collegiate career. Munch also deserves considerable recognition for making 15 saves against a dangerous Fordham attack.
The biggest concern remains Navy’s ability to protect leads and finish close contests. The Midshipmen led 5-2 during the second quarter but allowed Fordham to score four consecutive goals before halftime. They later recovered from a two-goal fourth-quarter deficit, only to surrender the winner with 16 seconds remaining. Those sequences demonstrate how small mistakes can determine the outcome when two talented programs meet.
Black’s pursuit of Navy’s all-time scoring record adds another compelling storyline to the remainder of the season. With 274 career goals, he needs eight more to tie Nicolao’s mark of 282 and nine to become the program’s outright leader. The opportunity to surpass his own head coach creates a unique connection between two generations of Navy water polo. More importantly, Black’s continued production could help the Midshipmen pursue postseason success.
Navy should leave Sunday’s contest believing it can compete with Fordham in another meeting. The Midshipmen have now played the Rams twice and demonstrated their ability to generate scoring opportunities against a nationally ranked defense. The next challenge will be translating that competitiveness into a complete four-quarter performance. If Navy can limit defensive breakdowns and execute more effectively in the closing minutes, it could become a dangerous opponent during the conference tournament.
What’s Next for Navy Water Polo?
Navy continues its homestand Sunday, November 1, with two MAWPC contests at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis. The Midshipmen host Mercyhurst at 10 a.m. before facing Bucknell at 3 p.m. Both games will be available through the Navy Athletics YouTube channel, providing fans an opportunity to follow the team’s final stretch of conference competition. Navy will look to rebound from the Fordham defeat while maintaining its position among the conference’s leading programs.
The Midshipmen enter the upcoming doubleheader with a 16-5 overall record and a 5-2 conference mark. Their performance against Fordham demonstrated the competitive standard required to challenge the nation’s elite teams. Black’s pursuit of the school scoring record and Navy’s postseason ambitions provide additional motivation for the remaining schedule. Despite Sunday’s difficult ending, the Midshipmen have established themselves as a formidable opponent capable of competing against nationally ranked competition.
