PRINCETON, N.J. — The No. 9-ranked Princeton University men’s water polo team improved to 5-0 on the season by defeating Bucknell Universty, 19-9, and Wagner College, 14-6, on the final day of the 2025 Princeton Invitational in DeNunzio Pool.
The Tigers got off to a quick two goal lead against Bucknell with tallies from Gavin Appeldorn and Ádám Peocz before the Bison evened things up. Finn LeSieur notched his first goal of the game with just four seconds on the clock in the quarter to give Princeton a one goal lead after the first eight minutes.
Peocz and Appeldorn both found the back of the cage to start the second quarter. The goal was the third of the game for Appeldorn, giving him a first half hat-trick.
Princeton was able to pull away before the halftime buzzer and hold a three goal lead.
Seven different Tigers scored in the third quarter compared to Bucknell’s one player with two goals.
Appeldorn, LeSieur and Nuño all recorded hat tricks in the contest as Princeton finished the matchup strong.
Luke Johnston and Peocz both deposited pairs of scores, while Nathan Banos, Taylor Bell, JP Ohl, Tigran Sennett, Otto Stothart and William Swart accounted for solo markers.
Kristóf Kovács (10) and Pierre du Plessis (three) combined for 13 saves.
In the tournament finale versus Wagner, Peocz picked up right where he left off with a goal at the 7:32 mark of the first quarter in opening the floodgates for the Tigers. Princeton scored seven goals in the quarter, while Kovács allowed just one goal in the quarter.
The goalkeeper logged a scoreless second quarter to keep the Seahawks at bay. Tas Palcza and Stothart each tallied their second goals of the day and Appeldorn got his name on the stat sheet to make it 11-1 entering halftime.
Peocz dented the twine twice in the third quarter to give him a new career high four goals in the contest. Luke Johnston added a goal in the fourth quarter as the Tigers finished off a decisive victory.
Peocz led the way with four goals, while Palcza (two), Stothart (two), Appeldorn, Banos, Luka Franulovic, Johnston, LeSieur, Enrique Nuño added to the Tigers offensive output.
Kovács (seven) and du Plessis (one) combined for eight saves.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
