Princeton University
#17 Cal Baptist
Players Mentioned
Men's Water Polo Drops Opener to Cal Baptist
September 10, 2010 | Men's Water Polo
LINKS: Princeton Invitational Schedule and Results
PRINCETON (9/10/10) - The 18th-ranked Princeton men's water polo team fell to 17th-ranked Cal Baptist in its season opener on Friday afternoon at DeNunzio Pool. Princeton and Cal Baptist traded goals through the first half of the game but the Lancers went ahead with a run to start the third quarter.
Princeton held first half leads of 1-0 and 2-1 on goals from senior co-captain Matt Hale. Cal Baptist then gained a 3-2 lead but sophomore Billy Tifft's goal on a counter midway through the second quarter knotted the game at three. Cal Baptist would add two goals in the closing two minutes of the half to lead by two at the intermission.
In the second half, the Lancers scored two quick goals to build a four-goal lead and take control. Princeton was strong defensively after the two goals and got the stops it needed with turnovers and stopped shots from senior co-captain Mike Merlone, but the Tigers couldn't convert in the offensive end of the pool to climb back into the game.
Sophomore Tommy Donahue and freshman Connor Still added the Tigers fourth and fifth goals and Merlone finished the game with eight saves before fiving way to freshman Ben Dearborn for the final five minutes.
Adam Steiger and Brent Troutman led the Lancers with three goals each.
Princeton is now 0-1 on the season and continues the Princeton Invitational on Friday night against Santa Clara at 6 p.m. in a nationally televised game on ESPNU.
| Princeton | 1 2 1 1 - 5 |
| Cal Baptist | 1 4 3 4 - 11 |
Princeton Goals: Hale 2, Donahue 1, Still 1, Tifft 1.
Cal Baptist Goals: Steiger 3, Trontman 3, Rodriguez 2, Mundy 1, Ogden 1, Toy 1.
Princeton Saves: Merlone (27:05, 8), Dearborn (4:55, 2)