LA JOLLA, Calif. — George Washington University completed the final two days of the University of California-San Diego’s Triton Invitational by taking losses to No. 2-ranked the University of Southern California, 23-9, and No. 6 Long Beach State University, 19-8, on Saturday, August 30, prior to suffering setbacks versus No. 14 the University of California-Davis, 11-9, and host/No. 12 UC-San Diego, 19-12, on Sunday, August 31. The four losses drop the Revolutionaries to 2-4 on the season.
Facing USC, GW was under fire early against the Trojans; USC built early separation and a lead that they held throughout the match. The Revolutionaries netted five goals in the first half, including three of Antonio Florena’s four total goals, but the Revolutionaries trailed by nine at halftime. First-year Ben McDade tallied his first career goal in the second half as George Washington continued to battle, outscoring USC 3-2 in the third quarter, but the damage was done and the match concluded at 23-9.
Eyeing an upset of the sixth-ranked team in the country to complete action on August 30, GW held a 7-6 lead through the first eight minutes, but Long Beach State was stout in the second quarter before shutting out the Revolutionaries in the game’s final 16 minutes for a 19-8 victory.
Yam Kabakov caught fire early for GW with three goals in the first quarter. Adonis Vlassis aided with two goals. Vasilije Marinkovic made seven saves.
On Sunday, August 31, George Washington and UC-Davis played a tight match from wire-to-wire, trading goals and the lead multiple times. GW was winning 3-2 at halftime, but a four-goal run for the Aggies in the third quarter gave UC-Davis an 8-5 edge. GW responded and tore off three-straight goals to tie the game at 8-8 early in the fourth quarter, but the Aggies pulled ahead down the stretch on its way to a narrow win.
First-years Andrea Forno and Anthony Ferneini led the attack with two goals apiece. Vlassis scored once but was effective in other ways, drawing five ejections and snatching four steals.
Squaring off with the host Tritons, George Washington came out slow against the hosts but stayed within striking distance in trailing by six goals at halftime. Play between the Revolutionaries and Tritons evened out in the second half, but GW was unable to get an edge and make up ground.
Vlassis was the focal point of GW’s offense with five goals in the finale. Vlassis forced three exclusions, second to Forno’s five exclusions drawn.
Information courtesy George Washington University Athletics Communications
