Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Navy (Southern Championships)
Men's Water Polo Earns Southern Championship
October 31, 2004 | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 31, 2004
Princeton, N.J. - Junior Dean Riskas scored with 1:47 remaining to give Princeton its first lead of the day as the men's water polo team came from behind to defeat Navy 10-9 in the title game of the 2004 Southern Championships Sunday afternoon at DeNunzio Pool. The Championship was Princeton's second consecutive and third in the last four years.
Navy got on the board first and held a one or two goal advantage for most of the game, holding a 4-3 edge after the first quarter and a 7-5 lead at the half. Junior John Stover scored the only goal of the third quarter to make it 7-6.
Down 7-6 entering the final quarter, junior Jamal Motlagh knotted the game up at 4:41. Bucknell then took an 8-7 lead before sophomore Victor Wakefield tied it at eight at 2:46. Riskas then scored the go-ahead goal at 1:47 with Motlagh adding an insurance goal with 36 seconds left. Navy scored with three seconds remaining to make the final 10-9. Motlagh led the Princeton scoring with three goals, including the eventual game-winner with 36 seconds remaining. Stover had two goals, while five other Tigers contributed with a goal apiece.
Senior goalkeeper Peter Sabbatini earned the win in net, making several big stops in the second and third quarters to keep the Tigers within striking distance.
Princeton is now 22-4 and advances to the CWPA Eastern Championships in two weeks at Bucknell. The Tigers, the top seed out of the Southern Division, will meet the fourth seed from the Northern Division at 9 a.m. on November 13.
Princeton 3 2 1 4 - 10 Navy 4 3 0 2 - 9PU Goals: Motlagh 3, Stover 2, Riskas 1, Seaver 1, Wakefield 1 Navy Goals: Rollo 4, Tribiano 2, Snelgrove 1, Suriano 1, Gentry 1