Princeton University
MIT
No. 6 Men’s Water Polo Sweeps NWPC Battles In Boston
November 09, 2024 | Men's Water Polo
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.- The Princeton men's water polo team was on the road to wrap up the regular season with its first stop in Cambridge, Mass. to take on the MIT Engineers and No. 15 Harvard Crimson. Collecting the two wins was important for the standings for the NWPC tournament, but the day was highlighted by the rivalry matchup between Princeton and Harvard.
Princeton 21, MIT 14
The first quarter of play went back and forth as MIT got on the board just 28 seconds into the game. Isaac Rotenberg answered and knotted things up at 1-1. The Tigers and Engineers traded goals before Princeton went on a 4-1 run to close out the first eight minutes of the game.
The Tigers had seven goals scored by six different players in the first.
Roko Pozaric, Vladan Mitrovic and George Caras all found the back of the cage to make it a 10-4 game at the half.
The goals came pouring in during the third quarter. Princeton tallied nine goals after Garlinghouse sparked the offensive attack.
Kristóf Kovács made seven stops for the Tigers before Garlinghouse finished out the game in the second half.
George Caras recorded a hat trick in the third quarter alone to finish the game with four goals.
MIT went on a four quarter run, but the Princeton lead was too much to overcome as the Tigers picked up the win.
Goals: Caras (4), Mitrovic (2), Adam Peocz (2), William Swart (2), Gavin Appeldorn, Nathan Banos, Garlinghouse, Luke Hammarskjold, Luke Johnston, Logan McCarroll, Enrique Nuño, Pozaric, Rotenberg, Teddy Rountree-Shtulman, Tigran SennettSaves: Kovács (7), Garlinghouse (2)
Princeton 14, Harvard 9
The Tigers came into the Saturday night matchup with a chip on their shoulders. Harvard picked up a win in sudden death overtime earlier this season in DeNunzio Pool but Princeton was ready to even the score.
Finn LeSieur immediately launched the ball for the first goal of the game after just 18 seconds ticked off the game clock. Gavin Appeldorn and Mitrovic added a goal each to get Princeton off to a 3-0 lead.
Harvard looked to get into the game but the reigning Defensive Player of the Week Kovács shut the Crimson out in the first quarter.
The Crimson finally got on the scoreboard at the 5:18 mark in the second quarter by taking advantage on the counterattack.
LeSieur scored his second of the night in response before Harvard added another. Mason Killion pushed the ball in for his first goal of the game.
Harvard snuck in another score to make it a two-goal game at halftime.
Princeton won the opening sprint in the third and immediately called a timeout. The Tigers then connected on three goals from JP Ohl, Luke Johnston and Killion to increase the lead and forced Harvard to take a timeout.
Killion scored on the man advantage for the hat trick as Princeton held a 9-6 lead going into the final frame.
Logan McCarroll and Johnston kept up the consistent quick scoring to open the quarter before Harvard added a goal. Roko Pozaric added a goal to balloon the lead to five.
Another attempt to chip away at the lead from Harvard was quickly stopped by a goal from George Caras.
Harvard worked to make the comeback but there was not enough time before Princeton sealed the deal for the victory.
Killion's first hat trick of the season paced the Tigers in the win as Kovács held the Crimson to single-digit scoring.
