BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) releases the 2018 Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Players of the Week for the period ending September 2, 2018.
Player of the Week
Brown University’s James Thygesen (Jr., Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo Park) totaled 10 points on five goals and five assists in a 2-3 weekend for the No. 15-ranked Bears at home during the Bruno Classic to garner recognition as the September 3 Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Player of the Week.
He netted two assists in a 16-7 defeat of Austin College prior to being held off the scoreboard in an 18-7 loss to No. 5 University of the Pacific. Facing No. 20 Bucknell University, he punched in a goal with a steal. Thygesen followed with two goals, one assist, one steal and a field block during an 18-6 loss to No. 7 University of California-Davis prior to racking up two goals, two assists, a steal and an ejection drawn in a 12-11 upset win against No. 8 Pepperdine University in overtime.
September 3 Northeast Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Player of the Week: James Thygesen (Brown University)
Honor Roll: Dennis Blyashov (Harvard University); Patrick Hudak (Iona College); Miller Geschke (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); Wyatt Benson (Princeton University)
Defensive Player of the Week
Sophomore Riad Hallal (Coronado, Calif./Coronado) of No. 15-ranked Brown University registered 18 saves, including seven stops in a 12-11 overtime upset win against No. 8 Pepperdine University, in posting a 2-1 record at home during the Bruno Classic. For his performance, Hallal collects recognition as the September 3 Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Defensive Player of the Week.
Opening the season against Austin College in the ‘Roos first varsity game, he made seven saves with two goals against in a half during a 16-7 victory. He did not play against No. 5 University of the Pacific (18-7 L), but stopped four shots with 14 goals against and a steal in a 14-7 loss to No. 20 Bucknell University. After not appearing against No. 7 University of California-Davis (18-6 L), he saved his best performance for the Pepperdine Waves as he turned away seven shots and permitted 11 goals in an overtime victory.
The award marks the seventh weekly accolade bestowed on Hallal who previously earned recognition on September 4 (Defensive Player), September 11 (Rookie), October 9 (Rookie), October 30 (Rookie) and November 13 (Defensive Player/Rookie) during the 2017 season.
September 3 Northeast Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Defensive Player of the Week: Riad Hallal (Brown University)
Honor Roll: Noah Hodge (Harvard University); Ryan Melosini (Princeton University); Benedek Molnar (St. Francis College Brooklyn)
Rookie of the Week
Billy Motherway (Fr., Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) of No. 13-ranked Princeton University made 24 saves over the span of three games as the Tigers went 3-0 at the United States Naval Academy Navy Open. For his efforts, Motherway collects laurels as the September 3 Northeast Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Rookie of the Week award.
He stopped 10 shots in the second half of a 12-5 defeat of Division III No. 2 Johns Hopkins University prior to notching his inaugural intercollegiate victory by turning aside nine shots in an 11-5 defeat of No. 20 Wagner College. He also added five saves against the host Midshipmen in a 15-9 defeat of Navy.
September 3 Northeast Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Rookie of the Week: Billy Motherway (Princeton University)
Honor Roll: Matt Simko (Brown University); Noah Hodge (Harvard University); Miller Geschke (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); Cody Jones (St. Francis College Brooklyn)
