Princeton University
#9 UC San Diego
Players Mentioned
UCSD Holds Off Tiger Comeback in Men's Water Polo
September 12, 2008 | Men's Water Polo
PRINCETON -- The 20th-ranked Princeton men's water polo team dropped its season opener to No. 9 UC San Diego on Friday night at DeNunzio Pool. Princeton trailed by three entering the final quarter and rallied within a goal of the Tritons but was unable to draw even in the closing minutes.
Princeton got two goals each from sophomore Jeff Cole, senior Brendan Colgan and junior Eric Vreeland. Vreeland also had two assists in the game. Sophomore goalkeeper Mike Merlone made nine saves in the loss.
UC San Diego jumped off to a quick start and never trailed in the game. Goals from Steven Donohoe and Chance Vermilyea gave the Tritons a 2-0 lead in the opening quarter before junior Eric Vreeland scored Princeton's first goal at 4:05 of the period. UCSD maintained the one-goal margin through the remainder of the period and led 4-3 entering the second frame.
Adrian Jerkovic gave the Tritons a 5-3 lead in the first minute of the second quarter, but consecutive Tigers goals a minute apart from sophomore Jeff Cole and senior Brendan Colgan knotted the game at 5-5, but UCSD quickly regained the lead and led 7-6 at halftime.
The third quarter belonged to UCSD as the Triton extended its lead to 10-7 in the stanza. Both teams solidified their defenses early in the fourth quarter as neither team could convert on a possession until Colgan scored halfway through the period. Freshman Tommy Donahue moved the Tigers within a goal with 3:11 remaining and looked to even up the score a minute later when his shot hit off the left post. UC San Diego quickly countered and converted at the opposite end of the pool on a goal from A.J. Kotanjian to give the Tritons an 11-9 lead.
Princeton is now 0-1 on the season and will look for its first win of the season tomorrow afternoon when it faces 15th-ranked Santa Clara at 12:45 p.m. Click here for other scores from Friday's session at the Princeton Invitational.
| Game 3 ? 7:30 p.m. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| UC San Diego | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | 11 |
| Princeton | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | 9 |
UC San Diego Goals: Jerkovic 3, Donohoe 2, Garcia 2, Kotanjian 2, Hunt 1, Vermilyea 1.
Princeton Goals: Cole 2, Colgan 2, Vreeland 2, de L'Arbre 1, Donahue 1, Hostmeyer 1.