NEWBERG, Ore. — Colin Szczesny (Sr., Aurora, Ill.) and Michael DiLascia (Fr., Greenwich, Conn.) both scored five times in combining for all their team needed to acquire a win as Southeast Division Champion the University of Alabama stunned No. 16-ranked/New York Division Champion the United States Military Academy, 15-9, in the first round of consolation play at the 2022 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship hosted by Oregon State University at the Chehalem Aquatic and Fitness Center.
Courtesy the win, the Crimson Tide advances to a 2:50 p.m. game on Saturday, November 12, against the victor of a consolation game pitting No. 5/Florida Division Champion the University of Florida and No. 14/Northwest Division Champion the University of Washington.
Army will conclude its participation at the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship at 9:50 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, as the Cadets take on the fallen from the Florida-Washington game in a 13th/15th Place game. Due to time constraints, the No. 13 and 15 positions are not played out as the winners and losers of the final games on Day Two of the championship tie for 13th and 15th place, respectively.
Alabama – which previously tied for 15th (2017, 2018, 2019) and 13th (2021) Place in four prior trips to the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship and is guaranteed to finish no lower than 12th in the 2022 championship field thanks to its victory over the Cadets – was never challenged in its contest against Army as the Crimson Tide jumped out to a 5-0 lead with 1:31 left in the first quarter and carried a 5-1 lead into the second quarter. The Cadets chipped away at their deficit to move within 9-6 by halftime and 10-8 by the conclusion of the third quarter. However, Alabama exploited a 5-1 scoring advantage over the final seven minutes in the fourth quarter to pull away and claim a 15-9 victory.
Brian Kent (Jr., Marietta, Georgia) added a pair for Alabama, while Ryan Kardayi (Fr., Tomball, Texas), Reif Richardson (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio) and Patrick McNally (Sr., Newark, Del.) tacked on solo markers.
Between the pipes, Ethan Stout (Fr., Irvine, Calif.) made 11 saves to earn the win, while Army’s Mason Calbert (Sr., Valley Center, Calif.) turned away seven scoring tries in taking the loss.
Max Orlowski (So., Canonsburg, Pa.), Robert Demont (So., Riverbank, Calif.) and Daniel Reimchen (Sr., Lake Orion, Mich.) each scored twice for the Cadets. Jennifer Gao (Jr., Palo Alto, Calif.), Thomas Beggs (Sr., Bloomington, Ind.) and Wesley Baca (So., Englewood, Fla.) accounted for the remainder of Army’s scoring.
The 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 New York Division Champions, Army’s history in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) predates the formation of divisions as the program captured the 1994 National Collegiate Club Championship against the University of Dayton. Since 2000, Army has placed Eighth (2017), 12th (2001, 2016, 2019) and 13th (2002, 2018).
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| University of Alabama |
5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | – | 15 |
| No. 16 United States Military Academy | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | – | 9 |
| Army Goals: | Max Orlowski (2); Robert Demont (2); Daniel Reimchen (2); Jennifer Gao; Thomas Beggs; Wesley Baca | |||||
| Alabama Goals: | Colin Szczesny (5); Michael DiLascia (5); Brian Kent (2); Ryan Karadayi; Reif Richardson; Brian McNally | |||||
| Saves: | Army – Mason Calbert (7); Alabama – Ethan Stout (11) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Army – 5 ; Alabama – 3 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Army – 3-for-3 ; Alabama – 1-for-5 | |||||
| Sprints: | Army – 0-for-4 ; Alabama – 4-for-4 | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Jahn Trutna; Robert North | |||||
The United States Military Academy’s Arthur Velishka (#16) defends the University of Alabama’s Chase McClure (#6)
The United States Military Academy’s Chris Perera (#9) shoots against the University of Alabama
The University of Alabama’s Ethan Stout (#1) prepares to make a save
