Princeton University
Johns Hopkins
Players Mentioned
Princeton Men's Water Polo Repeats as CWPA Southern Division Champions
November 08, 2015 | Men's Water Polo
PRINCETON, N.J. – Vojislav Mitrovic tied a program record with 20 saves to help lead the 11th-ranked Princeton University men's water polo team to a 16-12 victory over Johns Hopkins University in the 2015 CWPA Southern Championship game.
Capturing their second-straight (ninth overall) Southern title, the Tigers improved to 19-4 on the season. Princeton's victory marked the third time that the program has repeated as Southern champions (2003-04, 2010-11).
With the knotted at 3-3 after the first quarter, Princeton accounted for six of the nine goals scored in the second to take a 9-6 lead into the intermission. Down 11-7 in the third, Johns Hopkins reeled off three-straight to pull back within one. Stemming the tide, Matt Payne gave the Tigers' a two-goal edge with 1:50 left in the period before fellow freshman Michael Swart pushed the margin to three with 21 seconds left in the third.
Following a Blue Jays' score to open the final frame, Jamie Kuprenas netted a goal just 10 seconds later to make it 14-11. Just under the five-minute mark, Swart struck again to push the margin to four. Ahead 15-12 in the waning moments of regulation, Thomas Nelson closed out the scoring, putting away Princeton's 16th goal at 2:33.
Nelson led the Tiger offense with four goals, while Payne finished with three scores. Swart had two goals, three assists and three steals, while Jordan Colina chipped in with two goals and three helpers. Bret Hinrichs also had two goals, while Kuprenas, Curtis Fink, and Ryan Wilson also got on the board.
Making three saves in the first eight minutes, Mitrovic turned away five shots in the second. Collecting five more saves in the third, Mitrovic tacked on seven stops in the final period. Mitrovic's 20 saves ties a program record held by Peter Sabbatini (vs. Navy, Nov. 28, 2003) and Scott Syverson (at Bucknell, Sept. 14, 2007). Mitrovic's previous career-high of 17 was set earlier this season on Oct. 10 against Bucknell.
Goals: Nelson 4, Payne 3, Swart 2, Hinrichs 2, Colina 2, Kuprenas 1, Fink 1, Wilson 1
Assists: Colina 3, Swart 3, Wilson 2, Kuprenas 1, Wachtell 1
Steals: Swart 3, Colina 2, Jeremic 2, Kuprenas 1, Fink 1, Wilson 1, Payne 1, Bowen 1
Ejections Drawn: Fink 2, Nelson 1, Hinrichs 1, Colina 1, Wilson 1, Payne 1
Blocks: Kuprenas 1, Wachtell 1
Sprints: Colina 2-1, Wilson 1
Saves: Mitrovic 20