Princeton University
#14 Navy
Players Mentioned
Vreeland's Late Goal Lifts Men's Water Polo to Southern Title
November 09, 2008 | Men's Water Polo
PRINCETON -- Junior Eric Vreeland's lob goal with 1:29 remaining lifted the 16th-ranked Princeton men's water polo team to a 12-11 win over 14th-ranked Navy in the Southern Championship game on Sunday afternoon at DeNunzio Pool. The win gave Princeton's its fifth Southern Championship and its first since 2004.
The teams traded the lead throughout the game and spent a good amount of time deadlocked as neither team rarely held more than a two-goal lead. Navy did hold a two-goal edge at 11-9 in the final quarter, but two quick goals from senior Brendan Colgan on set plays drew the Tigers even for Vreeland's late go-ahead goal, which came moments after a Navy ejection ended.
Princeton got off to the early lead, leading by one after the opening quarter. But the game was tied at seven at the half and at nine after three quarters. Navy scored the first two goals of the final quarter but Princeton finished on a 3-0 run to pick up the win.
Colgan and Vreeland each finished the game with three goals, while junior Mark Zalewski added a pair and four others added single goals. Sophomore Mike Merlone made 12 saves for the win.
Princeton improved to 17-9 with the win and defeated George Washington, Bucknell and Navy to claim its first Southern title since the 2004 season. Overall, it is the Tigers fifth Southern Crown, with the other coming in 1991, 2001, 2003 and 2004.
Princeton, and the second to fourth place finishers at Southerns will advance to the Eastern Championships in two weeks at Navy. Princeton will likely be the top seed for that tournament, which will feature the top-four finishers of both the Southern and Northern Championships.
Princeton 4 3 2 3 - 12
Navy 3 4 2 2 - 11
Goals: Colgan 3, Vreeland 3, Zalewski 2, Cole 1, Edmunds 1, Hudnall 1, Wigley 1
Saves: Merlone 12
Sunday's Southern Scores
9th Place ? Penn State Behrend 13, Salem 6
7th Place ? Gannon 9, Washington & Jefferson 4
5th Place ? George Washington 9, Mercyhurst 8
3rd Place ? Johns Hopkins 11, Bucknell 9
1st Place ? Princeton 12, Navy 11