PRINCETON, N.J. — No. 18-ranked Harvard University men’s water polo took both games on day one of the Princeton Invitational. The Crimson beat Wagner College, 16-10, in the morning before taking down No. 16 Bucknell University, 14-10, in the nightcap.
Sophomore Kaleb Archer tallied six goals on the day, while first-year Andrej Bascia added four to lead Harvard on the day. Senior Jackson Enright scored three of his own to go along with two assists and four steals to help the Crimson improve to 5-1 on the season.
Against Wagner, sophomore Mot Stothart got the Crimson going in Princeton with an early goal before junior Alex Tsotadze added another as the score was tied 3-3 after one quarter. Junior goalie Nathan Wu made three saves in the first quarter to limit the Seahawks’ attack. Sophomore Kaleb Archer and senior Jackson Enright both had two first half goals, and the Crimson went into halftime leading 7-5.
Junior Colin Le came out of the break with two quick goals to help the Crimson pull away. Archer tallied three more second half goals to lead the way for Harvard. Sophomore Max Keck and junior Michael Sonsini also got on the scoresheet for the Crimson which beat Wagner for a second time this season.
Archer had a game-high five goals after scoring eight last weekend at home during the Bruno Classic.
Enright filled the stat sheet with two goals, an assist, two steals and two blocks, while Le tallied three goals and Tsotadze posted three goals to go along with three assists.
Wu made seven saves, bringing his season total to 21 through three games.
Facing Bucknell, Basica scored the first two goals of the game for the Crimson. First-year Tyler Zarcu added two first half goals, while Tsotadze and Enright also got on the scoresheet early. Junior goalie Noah Hodge made four saves in the first two frames and Harvard went into halftime leading 7-4.
The Crimson fended off the Bison attack in the second half behind four more saves from Hodge and five steals as a team. Sophomore Owen Hale and Basica both netted two goals in the final two frames. Archer, Le, and junior Gabe Putnam also tallied scores for the Crimson.
Basica led the team with four goals, bringing his season total to 19. Zarcu and sophomore Owen Hale both scored a pair of goals for the Crimson to accompany two assists and two steals by sophomore Mot Stothart.
Hodge finished with eight saves and now has 34 through his first three starts.
Release courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
