Princeton University Athletics
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Men's Water Polo Returns Home to Host Bucknell Saturday
October 07, 2011 | Men's Water Polo
Saturday's game begins a stretch in which Princeton plays six of seven games in its home pool over the next three weekends. The Tigers have played on the road the last three weekends. Princeton is now 11-6 overall.
Last weekend Princeton made the trip to the West Coast to play six games against teams ranked above it in the national polls. The Tigers entered the weekend ranked 14th in the poll, but an 8-4 win over 13th-ranked Long Beach State helped the Tigers bump up a spot in the latest poll. Princeton was also ranked 13th two weeks ago and its stands as the highest Princeton has been ranked during the season.
The Tigers went 1-5 during the six-game California trip. In addition to the win over Long Beach State, Princeton dropped two games to 11th-ranked Loyola Marymount by a combined four goals. The Tigers also had a close loss to ninth-ranked UC Davis.
Matt Weber led all Tigers with seven goals over the weekend, while Mike Helou and Thomas Nelson chipped in six goals apiece. Kayj Shannon continues to lead the team with 25 goals this season, while Weber and Drew Hoffenberg reached 20 goals during the weekend. Nelson now ranks fourth on the team in scoring with 17 goals.
Princeton hosts Bucknell on Saturday in both teams' fourth league game of the season. Princeton, Bucknell and Johns Hopkins are all currently tied atop the Southern standings with identical 2-1 records. George Washington sits fourth at 1-2 and Navy is in fifth place with an 0-2 record.
Bucknell is currently 7-2 overall and hasn't played since a win at George Washington on Sept. 25. Like Princeton, the Bison lost to Johns Hopkins and beat Navy and GW that weekend. Bucknell also has wins over Gannon, St. Francis, Harvard, Iona and Fordham this season.
Last year Princeton took four of five games from the Bison. Princeton topped Bucknell in the home league game last season and at the ECAC Championship, Southern Championship and Eastern Championship. Bucknell won the league game played in Lewisburg.
Princeton will visit Bucknell and host Johns Hopkins and Navy next weekend.