PRINCETON, N.J. — Head coach Derek Ellingson and the No. 12-ranked Princeton University men’s water polo team cruised past No. 9 Pepperdine University, 12-9, and Mount St. Mary’s University, 18-5, in wrapping up a perfect mark at home in DeNunzio Pool during the 2026 Princeton Invitational.
Battling through a back-and-forth contest versus Pepperdine, the Tigers took command to break the Waves..
Ádám Peocz opened the scoring for the Tigers before Pepperdine answered to tie the game. The teams remained even through the first half, with Princeton trailing 5-3 at the break. The Tigers doubled their lead to 8-4 in the third quarter before Pepperdine battled back to within one entering the final frame.
Princeton pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure the 12-9 victory thanks to goalkeeper Kristóf Kovács who made 17 saves.
Enrique Nuño (three), Peocz, Tibi Cojocariu (two), Otto Stothart (two), Finn LeSieur (two) and Taylor Bell combined for the Tigers dozen goals to overcome Pepperdine.
Princeton closed out the weekend with an 18-5 victory over Mount St. Mary’s.
Taš Palcza opened the scoring with back-to-back goals as the Tigers quickly established control. Teddy Rountree-Shtulman added a hat trick in his season debut as Princeton continued to build its lead throughout the contest.
The Tigers’ offensive attack powered Princeton to the 18-5 win with Palcza (six), Rountree-Shtulman (three), Cojocariu (two), Peocz, Boti Kovács, Luke Weichert, Nathan Banos, Nuño and Bell all notching strikes.
Kristóf Kovács finished out the day with 16 stops versus the Mountaineers.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
