After three losses in the past six years to Navy in the Eastern Championship title game, the men’s water polo team finally got over the hump Sunday in Cambridge, Mass. Led by a staunch defensive effort and three goals from junior center defender Matt Hale, the No. 18 Tigers defeated the No. 12 Midshipmen, 5-4, to win their third title and gain an automatic berth in the NCAA Championship beginning on Dec. 5. The finals will be played at DeNunzio Pool in Princeton.
“The fact that the Final Four is at Princeton means so much to us,” Hale said. “That’s really what gave us strength to pull through and to pull that game out.”
The Tigers’ last two Eastern Championship titles came in 2004, when the team defeated St. Francis College, and in 1992, over Slippery Rock University.
“We minimized our mistakes, and we knew that they were going to take advantage of any mistake we made,” senior attack Eric Vreeland said.
“We did a great job of controlling the game and controlling the tempo,” Vreeland added. “It wasn’t a blowout, and it was what we needed to do.”
The Tigers grabbed the lead after only 51 seconds, when Hale eluded two Midshipmen to power the ball into the net past goaltender Brett Rajchel. Minutes later, junior center Jeff Cole added a second goal to put the Tigers up, 2-0, by the end of the first period.
“The number one thing we did well this game was that we came out of the gate really strong,” Vreeland said. “In the other games [we played against Navy], we were coming from behind, but this time we put the pressure on them.”
In the second quarter, the teams exchanged goals, with Navy’s Stevie Ray making the score 2-1 before Hale converted a five-meter penalty shot at the 3:56 mark.
Princeton took the 3-1 lead into the second half, and it appeared to be in an enviable position.
“[At the] beginning of the third quarter, they knew that if they didn’t do something soon that the game was going to be over,” Vreeland said.
The Midshipmen did just that, catching fire early in the third period. Kyle Wertz notched a goal at the 6:36 mark on Navy’s first man-up chance of the game. Luke Baldwin and Conor Handley each added goals at the 4:52 and 4:06 marks, respectively. The 3-1 lead had morphed into a 4-3 deficit.
Hale brought the Tigers back even with 2:14 in the third quarter, shedding his defender and ripping the ball past Rajchel.
“It was a six-on-four situation,” Hale said of the goal. “Someone had to [score], and I was the one left open, so I did it.”
The tie lasted another 2:12 before the Tigers went ahead for good. In the closing seconds of the quarter, sophomore attack Chris Cottrell calmly slipped the ball into the net in what would prove to be the game-winner.
Princeton’s perilous lead ensured an exciting fourth quarter, but the Tigers stifled any Midshipmen attempts to net the equalizer, despite nervy closing seconds.
“Navy got the ball back with about seven seconds to go in the game, and we had to shut them down for those seconds,” Vreeland said. “With three seconds to go, they got an offensive foul and only then did we start celebrating.”
The Tigers blocked four shots from the field in the period while Navy’s defense was equally dominating, resulting in no goals for either team.
“We held them defensively,” Hale said. “We’re so well conditioned this year, and I think they were more tired than we were. They were playing so hard on defense and trying to get the ball. It seemed like they didn’t have much energy left on the offensive end. We got a few good calls in our favor. Things kind of went our way, and we managed to hold them off.”
The fourth quarter put an exclamation point on a vicious defensive battle. Princeton focused on preventing the Midshipmen from having any shots on target, and it enjoyed considerable success. The Tigers blocked 10 shots before junior goaltender Mike Merlone, who contributed eight saves, was even tested.
“Our defense won this game,” Vreeland said.
“We knew that they had a couple excellent players that we had to shut down, particularly Stevie Ray, and Kyle Wertz, who was the Southern [Division] Player of the Year,” Vreeland said.
Following the victory, senior attack Douglas Wigley was awarded the Eastern Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while head coach Luis Nicolao was named Eastern Coach of the Tournament for the second time in his career. In addition, senior left attack Mark Zalewski was named to the All-Tournament team.
Though the bracket for the NCAA tournament has not yet been released, Vreeland speculated that the team will play top-ranked USC in the first round.
“We’d be coming in as the underdogs, but the last time we came to the Final Four, we played UCLA to one goal,” he said. “If we can win a game at the Final Four, that’d be great for us.”
Read More
Preview: Football names captains and looks ahead to their first game
Lily PampolinaPrinceton football kicks off their season Saturday at noon at home against University of San Diego. The team hopes to get back on track after a disappointing season last year.
Princeton football kicks off their season Saturday at noon at home against University of San Diego. The team hopes to get back on track after a disappointing season last year.
By the Numbers: Goals and medals for the Tigers’ start to the fall
Harrison BlankThis week in By the Numbers, women’s cross country took first in their first two meets, led by sophomore Meg Madison. Amid these accomplishments, the Tigers won over three-fifths of their games and had winning records both at home and on the road.
This week in By the Numbers, women’s cross country took first in their first two meets, led by sophomore Meg Madison. Amid these accomplishments, the Tigers won over three-fifths of their games and had winning records both at home and on the road.
Late goals lift men’s soccer past University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2–0
Harrison Blank and Matthew YiMen’s soccer overcame a slow start to beat the Minutemen.
Men’s soccer overcame a slow start to beat the Minutemen.