It is tournament time for the men's water polo team. Finishing off its regular season with an impressive 16-3 record, Princeton has performed well all year.
Most recently, the squad finished 2-1 in last weekend's Inter-Regional Competition. Princeton suffered its only loss to a strong Navy team, but the Tigers' efforts still positioned them well in the Southern Division Championships this weekend. Princeton is seeded No. 2 in the upcoming tournament.
This weekend the Tigers travel to Bucknell University to try their hand at the Southern Division Championship Title. George Washington, Johns Hopkins, Gannon, Bucknell, Mercy Hurst College, and the U.S. Naval Academy will all be present at the championship.
Princeton will kick off the tournament on Friday night in a game against Gannon University. Having already beaten Gannon, 8-3, in the Inter-Regional Competition in DeNunzio Pool last weekend, Princeton will most likely exploit its depth in this early-round game and should have no problem beating Gannon.
The Tigers play their next game on Saturday morning against Penn State-Behrend College. Princeton has a great shot at repeating its last landslide 15-2 victory over Penn State-Behrend.
If their matches against the two C bracket competitors, Gannon and Penn State-Behrend, are successful, the Tigers will play the plurality winner of the D bracket. The Tigers could be up against Johns Hopkins, Bucknell, or Grove City.
The third game will most likely be against Johns Hopkins' squad as they have previously beaten Grove City and Bucknell.
Princeton has already taken down Johns Hopkins in regular season competition twice, and the Tigers beat the Jays in the Inter-Regional Competition last weekend, posting a 14-6 victory.
Navy favored
The winner of that Saturday evening game plays again on Sunday morning in the final game against the team that comes out on top of the A bracket and B bracket matches. Odds favor Navy to make it to the final round.
The Midshipmen will have had to plow through Washington & Jefferson College and Mercyhurst College, two teams Navy has already beaten easily.
If all goes as planned, Princeton will meet Navy in the finals. The Tigers have their eyes set on the Sunday morning championship game with hopes of redeeming their loss last week to Navy.
In the three Princeton-Navy confrontations this year, the Tigers hold a record of 2-1 over the Midshipmen. However, the last time the two teams met, which was in the Inter-Regional Competition, Navy was too hot to handle, defeating Princeton 8-6.
The Tigers loss in last Sunday's match was largely a result of poor shooting from the Princeton squad. Scoring on only six of 17 attempts, the Tigers will have to alter their scoring strategy for the big game.
"We were looking for calls instead of really putting the ball away," freshman driver Nick Seaver said in reference to the scoring problems versus Navy.
This weekend, the Tigers will aim to sharpen their shooting and open up more scoring opportunities.
While the offense has been working to improve its finishing arond the net, the defense has been at the other end of the pool improving its press release. The Princeton defense, by building around Navy's strengths, is taking new approaches in preparation for the upcoming games.
Transitions
"Navy had a powerful counter attack, and the key to beating them will be mastering the transitions as the play moves down the pool," Seaver said.
Success at the Southern Division Championships this weekend will send the water polo team confidently to its next chance for tournament victory at the Eastern Division Championships, to be held the following weekend.
Read More
Six for six: men’s and women’s track and field both complete triple crown
Luke StocklessMen’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Men’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Nation’s No. 2 miler Mena Scatchard ’25 to transfer to Stanford for graduate year
Luke StocklessThe Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.
The Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.
Two-way treats: Shenefelt and Kram do it all for Princeton baseball team
Joseph UglialoroThe baseball team features two players who hit and pitch, a rarity at the college level. Nick Shenefelt and Kaden Kram each took unique paths to playing both ways this season.
The baseball team features two players who hit and pitch, a rarity at the college level. Nick Shenefelt and Kaden Kram each took unique paths to playing both ways this season.