The Columbia men’s swimming and diving team’s momentum was cut short this weekend after losing in a conference matchup with Navy. Despite another fantastic showing from junior Hyun Lee, the Lions could not overcome the depth of the Midshipmen, who won 10 of 16 events in a 176-119 victory.

According to senior captain Henning Fog, the team failed to live up to its potential at Friday’s competition.

“Meets like Navy can be tremendously frustrating,” Fog said. “We know what we’re capable of at the end of the season, but to lose so handily to a team that, all things being equal, we more than hold our own against is a real bummer.”

Lee touched first in three individual events—the 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter freestyle, and 800-meter freestyle. He also led the winning 400-meter freestyle relay team. Columbia (4-5, 1-5 EISL) now sits in eighth place in the Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League.

Fog said the team needs to focus on its ultimate goal—a good performance in the EISL Championship in March.

“I was very proud of the way we swam against Navy, just as I was the last two weeks,” he said. “The results, unfortunately, don’t speak to this trend. The key for us is focusing on the ‘big show’ and not allowing these dual meet losses to eat at our confidence.”

In addition to Lee, Columbia winners included sophomore Darren Pagan, who touched first in the 200-meter individual medley, and junior Steve Ko, who won the 100-meter butterfly. Despite the disappointing defeat, Fog thinks the team should move on and focus on looking to the rest of the season.

“We’ll have to quickly forget this weekend in preparation for next weekend’s races against Princeton and Dartmouth,” Fog said. “Both should be very positive meets and an opportunity for us to end the regular season on a high note.”

The Lions return to the pool this Friday at Princeton at 6 p.m. before returning to Uris Swim Center for their final home meet against Dartmouth the next day.