CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The No. 13-ranked Harvard University men’s water polo team capped off the regular season with a 13-9 win over Division III No. 5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), improving its conference record to 9-1 this season. The Crimson also locked in the top seed for the Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Championship tournament for the first time in program history.
The opening quarter saw a strong showing in the net from both sides until Dennis Blyashov capitalized on a penalty scoring opportunity, notching the first goal for the Crimson. Blyashov continued the scoring drive, taking advantage of a six-on-four defense allowed by the Engineers. MIT responded with two goals from Evan Kim and John Steele in the final seconds of the quarter. Both offenses came alive in the second period, combining for eight goals, with MIT holding a 7-5 lead through the half.
Coming out of the break, Blyashov showed life for the Crimson’s attack before Alex Tsotadze found two scores of his own. The teams traded goals through the third, and headed into the final quarter tied at nine. Harvard sprung a late rally in the fourth with goals from Blyashov, Tsotadze, Bruno Snow and Jackson Enright to ensure a Crimson victory.
Goalie Anthony Ridgley‘s defense left the Engineers scoreless in the fourth quarter as the senior recorded five saves in the final frame.
First-year Noah Hodge tallied three saves, an assist and a steal as Harvard has now tallied 20 or more wins for the fifth consecutive season.
Release courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
