The men’s water polo team (23–8 overall, 9–1 Northeast Water Polo Conference) delivered a weekend to remember at home in DeNunzio Pool with a series of commanding performances. On Saturday, the Tigers opened the Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) tournament with a decisive semifinal win over the No. 4 seed Iona Gaels (12–15, 6–6). The team sealed a second victory on Sunday over the No. 3 seed Brown Bears (18–10, 6–4), claiming their fourth consecutive NWPC championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Princeton Advances to NWPC Final with Commanding Win Over Iona
Senior utility Roko Pozaric wasted no time putting Princeton on the board in the semifinal, scoring less than a minute into the match. After Iona briefly tied the score at one, the Tigers unleashed a relentless offensive push. Key contributions came from senior defender Vladan Mitrovic, who notched a first-quarter hat trick, and sophomore Finn LeSieur, who’s early goal set the tone for a dynamic team performance.
“We are very deep in several important positions and we have guys that play different styles so we can mix things up quite a bit.” Head coach Dustin Litvak told The Daily Princetonian. “We have more offensive firepower than previous years in my opinion and we can be just as good defensively as the previous Princeton teams,” he added.
By halftime, Princeton held an 11–5 lead, bolstered by goals from multiple scorers, including junior utility JP Ohl, senior attacker Gavin Molloy, and first year attacker Ádám Peocz. The Tigers’ defense, led by sophomore goalkeeper Kristóf Kovács, was equally dominant, holding Iona to just one goal in the third quarter while Princeton surged ahead with six unanswered goals in the frame.
Senior utility Logan McCarroll capped the offensive onslaught with a hat trick of his own, scoring twice in the final quarter. Kovács anchored the Tigers with 14 saves, neutralizing Iona’s attempts to close the gap.
The Gaels struggled to contain Princeton’s depth and efficiency. The Tigers converted two of four man-up opportunities while limiting Iona to just three of 14.
Tigers Crowned NWPC Champions for the Fourth Consecutive Year
The Princeton men’s water polo team cemented their NCAA berth with a 17–6 triumph over the Brown Bears in Sunday’s championship match, the Tigers’ fourth consecutive NWPC championship.
“The main thing we talked about was staying focused. All year it was kind of expected that the championship game would be between us and Harvard. With Harvard losing to Brown on Saturday we had to make sure we didn’t overlook Brown, as they would be very excited at a chance to beat us and make the NCAA tournament.” LeSeiur told ‘The Prince.’ “We prepped for this game like any other, watching film and scouring over the scouting packet put together by our coaches” he said.
Pozaric, Princeton’s all time scoring record holder, surged forward to win the opening sprint. Feeding off the thunderous crowd’s intensity, Princeton delivered an all-around performance for the ages. Mitrovic opened the scoring with a ferocious shot to the center cage that rippled the net, igniting the Tigers and their fans.
“It was an absolute honor to play in front of such an incredible and enthusiastic crowd.” Ohl said. “The entire team was eager to deliver a memorable performance in front of our fans.”
Goals from first year utility Gavin Appeldorn, Peocz and Pozaric followed in quick successions, and Princeton raced out to a 4–0 lead by the end of the first quarter as Brown was unable to get on the scoreboard.
At the other end of the pool, Kovács was a wall. Diving, lunging, and commanding the defense, he set the tone for a Princeton unit that allowed Brown almost no breathing room. It wasn’t until 14 minutes into the game that the Bears managed their first goal, but by that point, Princeton was already cruising with a 9–1 lead.
“Kristóf is the backbone of our defense. We made some mistakes defensively in the first half, but he was there every time. He plays with so much energy, it's impossible not to feed off of that. This is the second straight year he has been absolutely incredible in the conference championship game. He is a special talent.” coach Litvak said.
In the second quarter, Mitrovic and Pozaric, the Tigers’ reliable offensive leaders, each scored twice. Despite more opportunities for Brown, Kovács continued to dominate, denying their shots and ensuring Princeton entered halftime with control of the game.
Brown attempted a comeback in the third quarter, stringing together a three score run. However, Princeton pushed the lead up to 13–5 heading into the final frame.
By the time sophomore attacker William Swart fired in two fourth-quarter goals, the outcome was no longer in doubt. As the final seconds wound down, the Princeton bench erupted, and players piled into the pool in celebration. The raucous cheers from fans filled the air, a fitting end to a championship effort.
PRINCETON COMPLETES THE FOUR-PEAT🏆 pic.twitter.com/2wlYBsxQ8O
— Princeton Water Polo (@Pwaterpolo) November 24, 2024
“It is definitely an extra motivator to know that we have such a strong support system behind us. At the end of the day we aren’t just playing for ourselves, we are a part of something much bigger. We play for the long history and tradition of our program, we play for Princeton University, we play for the Garden State. This is what the crowd reminds us of, and it is constantly fueling our energy.” LeSeiur told the ‘Prince.’
Kovács capped off the historic weekend with 19 saves in the final, bringing his season total to a record-breaking 315.
“Our goal remains the same: to win a national championship.” LeSeiur added. “It has become a very real possibility for the program over the last few years, and this year is shaping up to be our best chance yet.”
With their ninth NWPC championship secured, Princeton now turns its attention to the NCAA tournament in Stanford, Calif., where the Tigers hope to continue their dominant run.
“One day at a time,” Litvak told the ‘Prince.’ “We have about two weeks to prepare for our first game against Stanford and that will be our main focus. It’s a tough path no doubt, but we have had a gauntlet of a schedule all season, are battle tested, and this is not a group that shies away from challenges. We’re excited,” he concluded.
Francie McKenzie is a staff Sports writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
Trump picks Stephen Feinberg ’82 for Deputy Secretary of Defense
Sena ChangPresident-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will nominate billionaire Stephen Feinberg ’82 for Deputy Secretary of Defense. Feinberg has donated nearly $1.5 million to pro-Trump political action committees and has chaired on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will nominate billionaire Stephen Feinberg ’82 for Deputy Secretary of Defense. Feinberg has donated nearly $1.5 million to pro-Trump political action committees and has chaired on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
Town acquires new land in northeast corner of Princeton to promote green space
Devon RudolphAt the final town council meeting of 2024 on Dec. 30, the council unanimously voted to approve a final wire transfer of just over nine million dollars to complete the acquisition of new land from Lanwin Group. The land is located in the northeastern section of the town and spans almost 91 acres.
At the final town council meeting of 2024 on Dec. 30, the council unanimously voted to approve the final wire transfer to complete the acquisition of new land around the University. The land is located in the undeveloped Lanwin tract on Herrontown Road in the northeastern section of the town, and spans almost 91 acres.
Former Princeton football player killed, another injured in New Orleans truck attack
Victoria Davies and Christopher BaoTiger Bech ’21, a wide receiver and punt returner for the football team, was 27 when he died early Wednesday morning. Ryan Quigley ’20, Bech’s friend and former teammate, was also been hospitalized.
Tiger Bech ’21, a wide receiver and punt returner for the football team, was 28 when he died early Wednesday morning.
