BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Washington & Jefferson College head coach Nikola Malezanov will begin his first season as a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s head coach with an international title under his belt as he led the United States Water Polo Cadet National Team to a convincing gold medal performance at the Darko Cukic Memorial Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia.
The Cadet National Team, which features athletes born in 2002 or later, is part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) under the governance of USA Water Polo, featured teams from Slovakia, Malta, Moldova, Australia, Serbia, the Netherlands and Croatia battling for international bragging rights
Team USA battled through the field by taking down Slovakia (9-5 W, August 15), Malta (13-5 W, August 15), Moldova (21-0 W, August 17) and Australia (16-4 W, August 18) prior to stunning host Serbia (8-7, August 18) and nipping the Netherlands (9-8 W, August 19) to set-up a clash with Croatia in the title game on August 20.
Trailing 5-4 at halftime against Croatia, the United States relied heavily on defense and goaltending to hold their opponent to one goal in the second half of the championship final.
George Avakian lead all Team USA scorers with three goals in the title game, followed by Ethan Parrish and Tanner Pulice who added two each. Nolan Krutonog did the job in net turning aside 17 shots.
Team USA and Croatia were even through the first quarter tied at 2-2 before Croatia took a 5-4 advantage at halftime. The United States took control in the second half holding Croatia scoreless in the third quarter as they rallied with two goals for a 6-5 lead. The United States then closed out the game by surging ahead in the fourth quarter with a 3-1 outburst for the 9-6 final score.
The gold medal victory improves upon a Seventh (2015) and Sixth (2014) Place finishes by the United States.
A native of Nis, Serbia, Malezanov will enter his first season as the men’s water polo coach at W&J after taking the reins of the women’s program on an interim basis during the 2016 season. He departed the program following the 2016 season, but returned as both the men’s and women’s water polo coach at W&J over the Summer.
He has more than 15 years of water polo coaching experience, including collegiate stops as an assistant at Salem International University (W.Va.) and the United States Naval Academy.
