The No. 14 men’s water polo team will face its toughest competition of the season this weekend, flying to sunny California for three days of matches against the best teams collegiate water polo has to offer. Princeton (7-5 overall, 4-1 Collegiate Water Polo Association), currently the top-ranked non-California team in the national polls, will face at least five California teams, including No. 1 Stanford, No. 3 USC and either No. 7 Pepperdine or No. 9 UC Irvine.
The match against the Trojans will serve as a warmup for the UCI Invitational, an annual tournament with 16 of the top teams in the nation. No. 17 Navy and No. 18 Bucknell will also be at the invitational and, along with the Tigers, will represent the best teams from the East Coast. Princeton enters the weekend after routing both the Midshipmen and the Bison in its last two games, and it is tied for the best record in the CWPA Southern Division.
The other 13 teams represent the best from the West Coast, with Redlands University competing as the tournament’s only unranked team.
Princeton usually treks to California every year in an attempt to compete against some of the best squads it sees all season, and last year’s trip was no exception. While dropping games to both USC and Stanford, the No. 1 and No. 3 teams at the time, Princeton picked up big wins against Pacific and Redlands. That kind of play prepared the Tigers for the rest of its season, as they finished 11-3 in the games after the California tournament. Two of those three losses came against Navy, who would go on to play in the NCAA Championships.
While a Princeton victory against USC or Stanford would be a major upset, anything is possible, especially if Princeton plays at the level it did last weekend. The matches against Irvine and Pepperdine will both be challenges, but both are winnable, as each team has lost to squads with Princeton’s level of strength and talent.
The Tigers had a few tough losses early this season, as well as disappointing losses to Bucknell and Navy. But Princeton water polo has been at its best in the past week.
Both a significant increase in the team’s offensive production and an improved ability to hold on to early heads have bolstered Princeton’s performance of late. Senior utility Mark Zalewski has been instrumental to the offense, leading the team with 30 goals this season and a spectacular 16 in the last four games. Zalewski was named the CWPA Southern Division Player of the Week after amazing performances against the Midshipmen and the Bison.
Defensively, Princeton has taken advantage of having three experienced goalies, with junior Mike Merlone and seniors Scottie Hvidt and Henry Fyfe posting some big saves for the Orange and Black. Merlone led the Tigers in the Navy win, putting up 12 saves and holding the Midshipmen to only three goals.
When the Tigers return from their California weekend, they will have their last three conference games to go, visiting George Washington, Johns Hopkins and Navy. With a strong finish, Princeton can propel itself to the top of the CWPA standings and give itself the top seed at the Southern Championships. The Tigers can also get a favorable seeding in the Eastern Championships with a top finish at Southerns. The winner of Easterns will be the East Coast’s representative in the final four of the NCAA Championships, which will be held at DeNunzio Pool in December.
Read More
Starting pitcher Sean Episcope taken at 155 by Milwaukee Brewers in MLB draft
Joseph UglialoroAfter two seasons at Princeton plagued by injury, sophomore Sean Episcope will now be hoping to take his talents to Major League Baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers.
After two seasons at Princeton plagued by injury, sophomore Sean Episcope will now be hoping to take his talents to Major League Baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Princeton catcher Jake Bold signs with hometown San Diego Padres
Joseph UglialoroFollowing three individually successful years with the Tigers, catcher Jake Bold will try to take his talents to the big leagues after signing with the San Diego Padres.
Following three individually successful years with the Tigers, catcher Jake Bold will try to take his talents to the big leagues after signing with the San Diego Padres.
With Pierce to sit out the year, men’s basketball loses last senior standing
Harrison BlankSenior forward Caden Pierce announced today that he will be sitting out his senior season of basketball at Princeton in the interests of maintaining his final year of eligibility.
Senior forward Caden Pierce announced today that he will be sitting out his senior season of basketball at Princeton in the interests of maintaining his final year of eligibility.