STANFORD, Calif. — The No. 5-nationally ranked Princeton University men’s water polo team fell to host/No. 4 seed/No. 4 Stanford University Cardinal in the quarterfinals/opening round of the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Water Polo Championship at the Cardinal’s Avery Aquatics Center. Following 23 wins, a new program record 514 goals and wins against 10 ranked opponents, Princeton’s 2024 season draws to an end.
Stanford struck first with two goals thanks to a goal and an assist from Jackson Painter before Enrique Nuño took advantage of a foul to get Princeton on the board. Adam Peocz and Roko Pozaric each found the back of the cage to take the lead at 3-2.
The Cardinal responded to tie things up at three a piece as CJ Indart leveled the score at the beginning of the second quarter before taking back the lead. Pozaric recorded his second goal of the game to even the score, but Dash McFarland and Alex Gheorghe each scored in the final minute and a half of the quarter to send Stanford into the break up 6-4.
Stanford connected for five goals before Peocz scored to try to create a spark for the Tigers. The freshmen added another tally to the sheet for the hat trick with 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter as the score stood at 9-6 in favor of the Cardinal.
The two teams traded goals to begin the fourth but Princeton was unable to hold off the opponent as the Tigers fell to the Cardinal.
Peocz led the way for the Tigers with three goals, while Pozaric tacked on a pair. Vladan Mitrovic, Nuño and JP Ohl notched solo markers in support of an 11-save performance by goalkeeper Kristóf Kovács.
10 different players scored for the Cardinal with the freshman trio of Botond Balogh, Ryan Ohl and Will Schneider scoring five times in their NCAA Championship debut.
Balogh paced Stanford with a hat trick, assisting once as well. Painter led all scorers in total points, scoring twice and assisting three times. In the cage, Former Princeton goalie West Temkin made eight saves before Grifen Price entered as a substitute in the fourth quarter. Price saved a goal and scored one himself.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
