Princeton University
Iona
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No. 13 Men's Water Polo Tops Iona, Edged By Brown at North-South Invite
September 15, 2012 | Men's Water Polo
The No. 13 Princeton men's water polo team opened up the North-South Invite with a 16-6 victory over Iona, before being edged 10-9 by No. 19 Brown in the semifinals to conclude day one action Saturday.
Versus Iona, Sam Butler, Drew Hoffenberg, Connor Still and Matt Weber led the offense with three goals apiece, while goalie Ben Dearborn had eight saves over his 27 minutes of work in the cage. Butler also notched three assists and Hoffenberg tallied three steals to lead the squad.
The Gaels took a 1-0 lead in the first quarter, but it would be the only advantage Iona would have for the remainder of the game. Princeton took a 3-1 lead before halftime and then saw its biggest offensive output following the break.
In the third quarter, the Tigers went on an 8-1 run to hold a 13-2 lead. The 13th-ranked Tigers wrapped up the game with a 5-4 fourth quarter to advance to the semifinals.
No. 13 Princeton: 0 - 3 - 8 - 6 - 16Iona: 1 - 0 - 1 - 4 - 6
Goals: Buchbinder 2, Butler 3, Hoffenberg 3, Still 3, Weber 3, Wenzlau 2
Assists: Amina 1, Buchbind 1, Butler 3, Hoffenberg 1, Kuprenas 1, Lebovitz 1, Still 2, Wenzlau 1
Steals: Buchbinder 1, Butler 2, Dearborn 2, Hoffenberg 3, Lebovitz 1, Ruth 1, Tifft 1, Wachtell 1, Wenzlau 2
Saves: Dearborn (26:16) 8, Byrne (5:44) 2
After a dominating win over Iona, the Tigers suffered their third loss of the year, falling 10-9 to the 19th-ranked Brown Bears. All three of Princeton's losses this year have been to ranked teams.
Behind a pair of Kurt Buchbinder goals, the Tigers held a 4-2 advantage following the first quarter. Princeton managed to hold off the Bears and maintain a slight lead, 6-5, entering halftime.
Following the break, both sides would each score a pair of goals in the third quarter. The Tigers were unable to sustain their advantage in the fourth, as Brown rallied back with a 3-1 run to get past Princeton.
Buchbinder, Jamie Kuprenas and Weber each had a pair of goals in the contest, and Butler dished three assists to bring his total to six on the day. Defensively, Dearborn had 12 saves and Tim Wenzlau had a team-high three steals.
Princeton (3-3) will face Bucknell in the third-place game of the North-South Invite at 12 noon on Sunday, Sept. 16.
No. 13 Princeton: 4 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 9No. 19 Brown: 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 10
Goals: Buchbinder 2, Butler 1, Kuprenas 2, Still 1, Tifft 1, Weber 2
Assists: Butler 3, Dearborn 2, Hoffenbeg 2
Steals: Hoffenberg 2, Still 1, Tifft 2, Wenzlau 3
Saves: Dearborn 12