New team, same story. For the men's water polo team (5-0 overall), an undefeated start to the year has allayed some of the concerns about the team heading into the season. Though the Tigers lost 12 members from last year's team, which finished 18-8 overall and 6-2 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association, they don't appear to have skipped a beat, sweeping the Princeton Invitational this weekend.
Ranked 15th in the nation at season's start, the Tigers defeated 17th-ranked Santa Clara on Sunday afternoon at DeNunzio Pool to maintain their flawless record. The 6-4 victory over the Broncos marked the first true test for a Princeton team that faced four unranked opponents earlier in the weekend.
Just hours after defeating Iona 13-4, the Tigers justified their ranking by edging a talented Santa Clara team. Princeton's offense was led by sophomore utilites Mark Zalewski — who scored three goals — and Greg Horstmeyer, who added two of his own. Holding a 5-4 lead late in the contest, the Tigers put the game out of reach when Zalewski added an insurance goal with only 24 seconds remaining.
After promising freshmen campaigns, Zalewski and Horstmeyer are just two of the players the Tigers will rely on to shoulder greater responsibility this season. The pair has already combined for 16 of the Tigers' 62 goals this season.
The Tigers' 2007 squad, however, will be led by three returning seniors — goalkeeper Scott Syverson, utility Zach Beckmann and driver Jason Diggs. Syverson, the team's starting netminder, is already well on his way to improving on his notable 16-8 record of last season. Syverson is 2-0 on the season, with freshman Mike Merlone picking up two victories and sophomore Scott Hvidt notched one as well. Beckmann has also gotten off to a fast start, scoring five goals in the first game of the season against Fordham.
Also returning for the Tigers are juniors Brendan Colgan, Alex Edmunds, David Grauer and Carlo Bencomo-Jasso.
Colgan, who tallied 29 goals last season, is the Tigers' leading returning scorer.
Edmunds, Grauer and Bencomo-Jasso, all of whom filled part-time roles last year, will likely be counted on for increased contributions during this season.
Despite losing its top three scorers from last season — Eric Vreeland '10, Nicholas Seaver '07 and Reid Joseph '07— Princeton has not been wanting for scoring in the early going.
In their first five contests this season, the Tigers averaged over 12 goals per game.
Even more impressive, though, was Princeton's defense, which held opponents to just 27 goals over five games.
Princeton's undefeated start to the season marks the first time that the team has swept the Princeton Invitational since the 2004 campaign.
The Tigers downed Fordham 15-8 on Friday night in the first game of the Invitational, which doubled as their season opener.
Led by Beckmann's five goals, Princeton matched its second-highest scoring output from last season.
After jumping out to a 6-2 lead in the first quarter, a consistent offensive attack and solid goalkeeping from Syverson and sophomore Scottie Hvidt ensured a Tiger victory.
Saturday proved to be more of the same for the Tigers, as they defeated Gannon, 14-4, and Mercyhurst, 14-7.
Over the two games, Beckmann added another eight goals to his tally for the year as the Orange and Black improved to 3-0.
Following the completion of the weekend's games, Beckmann now has 15 goals, leading the team.
He also leads the team in steals with 10 and is second in assists with seven.
The Tigers, hoping to keep their undefeated record intact, begin league play Friday when they head to Lewisburg, Pa., to face Bucknell.
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