PRINCETON, N.J. — The No. 10-ranked Princeton University men’s water polo team completed a five game sweep at home in DeNunzio Pool during the 2022 Princeton Invitational by defeating Division III No. 3 California Lutheran University, 13-7, and No. 17 Fordham University, 13-12.
Facing Cal Lutheran, the Tigers scored the first three goals and held a 4-2 lead following eight minutes. After the Kingsmen got within one, Princeton registered four straight to take an 8-3 lead into the intermission. Like the previous frame, after a tally from CLU, the Tigers ripped off four consecutive goals and put the game away.
The final game of the 2022 Princeton Invitational was a rematch of a 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship play-in game as the defending Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Champion Tigers clipped the reigning Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Champion Rams of Fordham by a goal.
Neither team led by more than two goals throughout the rematch.
The first quarter featured two ties, a George Caras hat-trick and Princeton with a 4-3 lead. The two squads exchanged goals, tying the game at six-all by halftime.
Even at eight-all, Fordham scored the last two goals of the third quarter, but Pierce Maloney quickly scored on consecutive possessions to begin the fourth quarter to tie the game for an eighth time. Luke Johnston put Princeton in front, but Fordham answered about 90 seconds later.
Roko Pozaric gave the home team the lead for good and Keller Maloney added the game-winner before Fordham scored with six seconds left to shrink the final difference to a goal.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
