ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The No. 10-ranked Princeton University men’s water polo team topped a pair of ranked Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) teams as the Tigers dispatched host/No. 17 the United States Naval Academy, 18-8, and No. 19 George Washington University, 15-6, on the second day of the 2025 Navy Open in Lejeune Hall.
Facing the host Midshipmen and former Princeton head coach Luis Nicolao, Adam Peocz got the first goal of the game for the Tigers before Navy knotted it up. Then Princeton took off for five consecutive goals, carrying into the second quarter.
The Tigers boosted their lead to 9-2 at the half as Kristóf Kovács allowed just one goal in each quarter before the break.
Finn LeSieur scored twice in the third quarter, while Otto Stothart and Peocz added one apiece. Princeton racked up five goals in the fourth quarter to close out the contest with William Swart finding the back of the cage twice.
Taylor Bell, Luke Johnston, LeSieur, Logan McCarroll, Enrique Nuño, Peocz and Swart each deposited pairs of markers with Gavin Appeldorn, Nathan Banos, JP Ohl and Stothart all denting the twine once in the win.
Kovács tallied 14 saves in net, good for a new season high.
Princeton remained perfect on the season at 8-0 as the Tigers pounced on George Washington.
The Black & Organ got going right away with four goals in the first quarter, with two coming from Peocz. Another five straight goals came in the second frame as Kovács shutout George Washington for the first half of the contest.
Johnston found the back of the cage to start the third quarter before George Washington recorded its first tally of the game. Stothart responded to bump the lead back to nine as Princeton continued to quell the Revolutionaries.
The two teams traded goals as the score stood at 12-3 heading into the final eight minutes of regulation.
Swart recorded his third goal of the contest for his third career hat trick. Bell and McCarroll each added one to close out the road trip with a 15-6 win.
Kovács had another strong performance in the cage with 13 saves and just three goals allowed through three quarters of play.
Ohl continued to work towards the all-time assists record by adding two more to his total following a four-assist game against Navy. The senior now has 185 in his career.
Overall, Swart (three), Nuño (two), Peocz (two) and Stothart (two) notched multi-goal games. Banos, Bell, LeSieur, McCarroll, Ohl and Tas Palcza chipped in solo tallies.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
