Princeton University Athletics
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Men's Water Polo Readies for League Weekend
October 15, 2010 | Men's Water Polo
Princeton is a perfect 4-0 midway through the CWPA Southern Division schedule with a win over each team in the league. Princeton will look to continue that stretch this weekend. Princeton enters the weekend winners of its last two games, topping Redland two weekends ago and Bucknell last weekend. The wins have Princeton 10-5 overall with a couple weekends remaining in the regular season.
Last weekend the Tigers improved to 4-0 in league play by topping Bucknell at home 7-4. Princeton never trailed in the game as Chris Cottrell and Tommy Donahue each scored twice and Mike Merlone provided 14 saves in the goal. Merlone earned Southern Defensive Player of the Week honors while Cottrell was selected to the honor roll.
Tommy Donahue continues to lead the team with 23 goals, although he missed all four games in California because of injury. Donahue returned to the Tiger lineup last weekend and scored twice. Tim Wenzlau (20), Mike Helou (19), Chris Cottrell (18) and Matt Hale (11) round out the team's top-five goal scorers. Hale currently leads the team with 21 assists and 33 steals, including five in the Bucknell game. Wenzlau and Donahue each have 11 assists.
Saturday's game will be the second of the season between Princeton and Bucknell, but the first that will count towards the league standings. The teams met on Sept. 19 in the third-place game at the ECAC Championship, a game won by Princeton 9-6. The Tigers never trailed in the win after opening a two-goal lead after a quarter of play. Wenzlau, Donahue and Parolin all scored twice in the win while goalkeepers Mike Merlone and Ben Dearborn combined for 14 saves.
Hale's 21 assists have moved him into the Top 10 in career assists at Princeton. Hale now ranks 10th overall with 47 assists in his career. Hale also ranks 16th in career goals with 66. Other current Tigers to rank high in Princeton career numbers include Merlone, first in career saves and 16th in assists, Wenzlau, 24th in goals, and Tommy Parolin, 26th in goals.
Princeton has already faced all three of its opponents this weekend. It begins on Saturday when the Tigers host Johns Hopkins on Saturday. The teams met three weeks ago with Princeton taking a 10-9 overtime win on a Jack Ruth goal. It was Princeton's fifth-straight win over the Blue Jays. Hopkins is 1-2 in the league.
The weekend continues on Saturday night when Navy visits DeNunzio Pool. Princeton topped the Midshipmen 7-6 three weeks ago and have won their last two games against Navy. Hale and Wenzlau each scored twice in the win as Princeton rallied from a 6-4 deficit with three unanswered goals in the final quarter. Navy is 3-1 in league play, a game behind the Tigers in the standings.
Princeton completes the weekend on Sunday at Bucknell. Princeton has won its last five games against Bucknell including two wins this season. Princeton topped the Bison 9-6 in the ECAC third-place game and 7-4 last weekend in league play. Bucknell is currently 0-4 in league play.
Princeton is back at home against next weekend with two games on Saturday, Oct. 23. Princeton hosts Iona at 10 a.m., and George Washington at 5 p.m.