Princeton University
#6 Loyola Marymount
Players Mentioned
Men's Water Polo Defeats LMU 6-5 in NCAA Consolation Game
December 06, 2009 | Men's Water Polo
PRINCETON (12/6/09) -- The Princeton men's water polo team rebounded from Saturday's National Semifinal loss with a 6-5 win over Loyola Marymount in Sunday's Consolation game in front of a capacity crowd at Princeton's DeNunzio Pool.
The Tigers set the tone with strong defense early in the game as Princeton held LMU scoreless thanks to three saves from junior goalkeeper Mike Merlone, including stopping Tibor Forai on a penalty shot and an exclusion attempt. Princeton countered late in the period with a 5-meter goal of its own as senior Mark Zalewski beat Loyola Marymount goalkeeper Andy Stevens with a shot to the left of the cage.
Princeton never trailed in the win and after Brian Benedetti evened the score early in the second quarter with a 5-meter shots, the Tigers built a 3-1 lead with goals from juniors Matt Hale and Tommy Parolin at 5:58 and 1:38. LMU cut Princeton's lead back to a goal when Albert Samuels scored with 52 seconds left in the half.
Samuels drew the Lions even early in the third quarter but goals from senior Douglas Wigley and freshman Bill Tifft on a counter helped Princeton moved ahead by two goals entering the final quarter.
Zalewski built Princeton's lead to three goals a minute into the fourth quarter when he connected on a power play before LMU closed the gap with two goals in a 47-second span in the fifth minute. Princeton called a timeout following the goal and regrouped for the final five minutes, limiting LMU's chances and stealing the ball as time wound down on the Lions' final possession.
Merlone made seven games in the win, while Stevens stopped 12 Tiger shots.
Princeton finishes the season at 16-12 overall and picked up its first-ever NCAA Championships win by edging LMU. The Tigers had dropped their previous six tournament games.
Following USC's 7-6 win in the championship game over UCLA, three Tigers–Zalewski, Hale and senior Eric Vreeland–were named to the second NCAA All-Tournament Team.
LMU 0 2 1 2 - 5
PRIN 1 2 2 1 - 6
Princeton Goals: Zalewski 2, Hale 1, Parolin 1, Tifft 1, Wigley 1.
Princeton Saves: Merlone 7
Princeton 6 on 5: 2-5
Princeton 5-Meter: 1-1 (Zalewski)
LMU Goals: Samuels 2, Aki 1, Asajavicius 1,Benedetti 1
LMU Saves: Stevens 12
LMU 6 on 5: 1-5
LMU 5-Meter: 1-3 (Benedetti)
All-Tournament Teams
First-Team
Shea Buckner, USC
Scott Davidson, UCLA
Ben Hohl, UCLA
Tibor Forai, LMU
J.W. Krumpholz, USC
Andy Stevens, LMU
Jordan Thompson, USC (MVP)
Second-Team
Edgaras Asajavicius, LMU
Matt Hale, Princeton
Cullen Hennessy, UCLA
Chay Lapin, UCLA
Matt Sagehorn, USC
Josh Samuels, UCLA
Eric Vreeland, Princeton
Griffin White, UCLA
Mark Zalewski, Princeton