PRINCETON, N.J. — The No. 9-ranked Princeton University men’s water polo team kicked off National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) play at home during the 2025 Princeton Invitational by dispatching Mount St. Mary’s University and No. 14 California Baptist University via a pair of 18-10 victories.
Facing Mount St. Mary’s, Otto Stothart got the scoring going for the Tigers with his first collegiate goal less than 20 seconds into the matchup. Princeton went on a quick 4-1 run thanks to two goals from Stothart before Taylor Bell found the back of the cage for his first collegiate tally.
Princeton’s lead ballooned to 10-2 tanks to 11 saves by goalkeeper as Kristóf Kovács.
Pierre du Plessis took over for Kovács in the second half as the Tigers cruised to victory.
Kovacs finished with 12 stops in the contest, while du Plessis tacked on five more.
Stothart led Princeton’s offense with five goals, while Taylor Bell, Finn LeSieur, Enrique Nuño and William Swart netted pairs. Gavin Appeldorn, Rayan Elahmadi, Tas Palcza, Logan McCarroll and Hayk Yengibaryan chipped in solo markers.
The second game of the day was a back and forth contest between the Tigers and the Lancers of Cal Baptist.
Appeldorn helped Princeton to strike quickly, but the Lancers tied the game at one-all before JP Ohl’s tough angle shot cashed in to give the Tigers a boost in a low scoring first quarter.
Ohl found the back of the cage to give Princeton a 3-1 advantage. The Lancers responded to each goal the Tigers scored before Ohl’s third of the day gave the squad a three score lead.
Princeton heated up after the halftime break with seven goals from six different Tigers. Ádám Peocz recorded a hat trick with two in the third before the Tigers closed the door on the Lancers thanks to five second half saves from Kovács.
Appeldorn, Peocz, Palcza and Ohl each finished with three goals for hat-tricks, while Luke Johnston registered a pair of markers. Bell, Nuño, Stothart and McCarroll dented the twine with solo scores in support of an 11 save performance by Kovács.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
