Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
California
No. 1 Cal Proves Too Much For Men's Water Polo
October 10, 2003 | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 11, 2003
PRINCETON, N.J. - Peter Sabbatini had nine saves against the top men's water polo team in the country but the Tigers lost to California 12-7 in Stockton, California. The loss was just the second for Princeton, who drops to 11-2 and faces two more western powerhouses this weekend.
The Tigers had a strong start as they usually do and were tied with California, 1-1, at the end of the first quarter. The score was 2-1 in favor of California just minutes before halftime but several mistakes and a couple calls against Princeton put the Tigers down 5-1 at the break.
Princeton fell further behind after John Stover, the Tigers' leading scorer, was ejected in the beginning of the second half and Jamal Motlagh fouled out in the middle of the third period.
Reid Joseph and Dan McKenna led the scoring for Princeton with two goals apiece while Mike McKenna and D.J. Halliday each had one.
"Cal is the number one team in the country," head coach Luis Nicolao said, "and I think we played a great game against them."
Princeton plays today at 12 p.m. against Pacific, who is ranked 16th in the national poll. The Tigers then face UC-Davis at 10 a.m. on Sunday in a battle of the two teams tied at No. 12 in the country. The final game of the California trip is against Air Force at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.