George Washington University Claims Spot in 2021 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Semifinal by Grounding Division III No. 5 Johns Hopkins University, 12-6

George Washington University-vs.-Division III No. 5 Johns Hopkins University Scoresheet (2021 Mid Atlantic Water Polo Conference Championship – Game #4)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Goalie Luca Castorina (So., Catania, Italy/Liceo Galileo Galilei) made 12 saves – including nine in the first half – as No. 3 seed George Washington University doubled-up Division III No. 5-ranked/No. 6 seed Johns Hopkins University, 12-6, in the opening round of the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Championship hosted at the United States Naval Academy’s Lejeune Hall.

The win advances the Colonials (11-3, 7-5 MAWPC-East) into a 6:00 p.m. semifinal clash with No. 20/No. 2 seed/host Navy at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 20, while Johns Hopkins (6-20, 2-10 MAWPC-East) will take on MAWPC-West Region Champion Gannon University at 3:00 with the hopes of reaching the tournament’s Fifth Place game on Sunday, November 21.

A two-time MAWPC Champion (2017, 2018) and four-time title game qualifier with runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2019, George Washington never trailed in the game as the Colonials jumped in front 2-0 by the conclusion of the first quarter thanks to even-strength scores by DJ Davis (Sr., Alamo, Calif./San Ramon Valley) and Leo Lueddemann (Fr, Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) at 2:00 and 1:18, respectively.

The margin grew to 5-0 less than halfway through the second quarter as Andras Levai (Gr., Budapest, Hungary/Csik Ference Secondary Scool) and Davis swished shots at 6:15 and 4:20 to sandwich a man-up marker by Viktor Jovanovic (So., Calgary, Canada/E.P. Scarlett) at 5:23 to make it a 5-0 game.

Hopkins broke up GW’s first half shutout bid as Olin Shipstead (Gr., Los Angeles, Calif./Agoura) (3:40) and Liam Housenbold (So., Atherton, Calif./Menlo School) deposited dimes at 3:40 (man-up) and 2:40 (even-strength) to move the Blue Jays within 6-2.

George Washington delivered a rebuttal prior to the end of the first as Nick Schroeder (Sr., Orinda, Calif./Campolindo) brought the curtain down on the first half by lining in a five-meter penalty shot to establish the lead at 6-2

The run continued into the second half as Levai punched in penalty shot (5:50) and natural (4:36) scores before Andrija Sekulic (Fr., Belgrade, Serbia/Savremena Gimnazija) put away a frozen rope at 3:59 to make it a seven-score contest.

Seth Berke (So., Boca Raton, Fla./Saint Andrew’s School) put Hopkins back on the board at 3:34 to make it a six-goal game. 

However, following another score by Jovanovic with 55 seconds left to expand the spread to 10-3, the Colonials put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter as Lueddemann (7:10) and Schroeder (6:10) notched man-up and penalty shots goals, respectively, to inflate the disparity to 12-3.  

Hopkins wrapped up the game as Jordyn Kunwar (Sr., Woodside, Calif./Menlo) (4:03), Christopher Lo (Fr., Newtown Square, Pa./Episcopal Academy) (2:32) and Housenbold (1:00) went back-to-back-to-back to move the Blue Jays within six prior to the final horn.

For GW, Levai (three), Schroeder (two), Lueddemann (two), Davis (two) and Jovanovic (two) all scored at least twice.  Sekulic tacked on a solo marker.

Across the tank, Housenbold keyed the JHU offense with a pair of goals.  Kunwar, Burke, Shipsead and Lo notched solo scores in support of a 12 save effort by goalie Kyle Pearson (Fr., Key Biscayne, Fl./Laurel Springs School (Calif.))..