ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The No. 10-ranked Princeton University men’s water polo team hit the road for the first time this season for the Navy Open hosted by the United States Naval Academy.
Facing a fellow 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship qualifier, the reigning Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Champion Princeton Tigers penned the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Champion Salem Tigers, 21-8, thanks to 14 second half goals.
Ádám Peocz‘s inaugural goal of the night allowed Princeton to strike first followed by a goal from Logan McCarroll to put Salem in an early hole.
Salem was able to get on the board, but Otto Stothart responded to bump the lead back to two goals.
In the second quarter, Salem again made it a one goal game at 4-3. However, goals from Stothart, Peocz and JP Ohl stymied Salem as Princeton went into halftime with a 7-4 margin.
Although Salem tried to get back into the game once more, Princeton led by a four-goal frame by Logan McCarroll put the opposing Tigers away for good. The Black & Orange had five different scorers combine for eight tallies in the quarter.
McCarroll racked up five goals on the night followed by a hat trick from Peocz. Nathan Banos, Taylor Bell, Enrique Nuño accounted for pairs of markers, while Gavin Appeldorn, Luka Franulovic, Luke Johnston, Ohl and William Swart tacked on solo tallies.
Kristóf Kovács made 11 stops in the cage, good for his fourth double-digit save performance of the season, prior to Pierre du Plessis swatting away a pair of scoring tries.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
