Men’s water polo falls to UCSD to complete season

This past Thursday, Dec. 3, the men’s water polo team traveled to USC’s Uytengsu Aquatic Center for an NCAA play-in game against the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The ninth-ranked Tigers lost to the No. 10-ranked UCSD Tritons 12-7, concluding the season with a tough loss. Princeton closed out the year with a 22-5 record overall along with a Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) title.

The Tritons started the game strong, scoring on their first possession after winning the opening sprint. UCSD would then find the back of the net another three times before the Tigers answered. After a timeout in the second quarter, senior center Thomas Nelson put Princeton on the scoreboard. The Tritons continued to pull away despite notable pushes by the Princeton squad to narrow the lead. Notable performances included two goals and two drawn ejections by Nelson, three goals by junior utility Jovan Jeremic and eight saves by sophomore goalkeeper Vojislav Mitrovic. The Tritons finished fourth at the NCAA tournament.

“It’s very disheartening to fly all the way out to LA, prepare for two days for the play-in game and then lose and miss on the chance to partake in the Final Four,” Nelson said. “I wish I was able to give the guys the experience of playing in the Final Four that I had my freshman year. I hope the guys remember the feeling of losing that game and flying home in the seasons to come. With that memory in mind, they'll need to work even harder to ensure they win CWPA and then the play-in game two weeks later.”

The Tigers qualified for their NCAA spot after clinching a close 7-6 victory over John Hopkins University (21-10 overall). This marked the fourth time the Tigers have claimed and won the CWPA title. Princeton entered the tournament seeded ninth, making Princeton the only non-California team in the varsity top 20. This appearance also marked the fifth time the Orange and Black have qualified for the NCAA tournament — Princeton finished third in 2009 and 2011.

In spite of the tough loss, the Tigers have much to be proud of as they look back on the 2015 season. “Any year that we win CWPA championships is a successful year. The prior two years we had very good seasons but weren’t able to put it all together when it mattered in the championship game,” said Nelson. “I'm proud of this team for doing well all year long and continuing that success into the postseason. This team did very well adjusting to the roles we needed everyone to fill. We were successful all year long because the guys quickly understood their roles and quickly excelled in them.”

In addition to excelling as a team, many individuals on the Princeton roster were also recognized for their individual contributions to the team’s success. Sophomore goalie Vojislav Mitrovic set a new Princeton record this season with 293 saves, surpassing the 1997 mark of 266 saves. Mitrovic and Nelson both made the All-CWPA tournament first team while Jeremic, sophomore attacker Jordan Colina and senior utility Jamie Kuprenas made second team honors.

While the season has come to a close, Princeton will be looking to replicate its success this season and progress further as a team in future years. “I expect Princeton to win the CWPA championship every year. While the seniors won’t be around, next year’s team is still going to be very strong,” Nelson said. “Someone once asked me how I don’t begin to fret when we’re in tight situations. The answer is simple: you place complete faith and trust in your teammates that you will win together. I hope next year’s team will continue to be close as a team, and if they trust each other I know I will bea happy alum watching them win the 2016 championship.”