CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — No. 14-ranked Harvard University took down Brown University, 8-4, in Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) competition at Blodgett Pool.
Junior Alex Tsotadze netted two goals as Harvard put in its finest defensive effort of the season, allowing only four goals behind nine saves from junior goalie Noah Hodge.
Junior Gabe Putnam got the Crimson rolling with its first goal at 4:38 in the first period. Sophomore Owen Hale netted a lob shot less than a minute later and Harvard never looked back. Sophomore Max Keck added one late in the first and Harvard led 3-1 after one.
Junior Michael Sonsini extended the Crimson lead early in the second, before Tsotadze added another to make it 5-1 with three minutes remaining in the half. Sonsini would then force a Bears turnover and feed sophomore Colin Le for a fast-break score. Harvard led 6-2 at halftime as Hodge saved five of seven shots in the first half.
The game slowed down in the second half, with both teams struggling to find the back of the net. A flash of brilliance from Tsotadze gave Harvard its seventh goal late in the third, as he fended off a Brown defender before firing in a shot around two defenders and the Bears goalie. First-year Andrej Basica got on the scoresheet late as Harvard beat Brown for the second time this season following a 10-7 victory in Cambridge on September 18 during the Harvard Mini tournament.
Tsotadze led the Crimson with two goals, adding an assist and three steals, while Sonsini posted three assists with a goal and three steals.
Hodge chipped in an assist and two steals to go along with three steals and a goal by Hale.
