This post was written by Hatchet staff-writer Josh Solomon.

Sophomore Bogdan Petkovic earned Collegiate Water Polo Association Southern Division’s Co-Player of the Week honors Thursday, his first award in the young season.

Petvokic has become accustomed to these kinds of accolades, taking home Rookie of the Week awards twice last season,while also being named CWPA Southern DivisionRookie of the Year and earning All-American honorable mention recognition.

In the three games the Colonials played this past week, Petkovic led the team with eight goals, 12 points, 11 steals and six field blocks. GW took home a 2-1 record at the Princeton Invitational, where the Colonials split their first day’s action with a loss to No. 16 Santa Clara and a win over Iona. They then defeated Harvard for the first time since 2009 in their second day of play.

Petkovic led the attack in all three games, building upon each previous performance.

He netted two goals, four steals and two field blocks in the 12-7 loss against Santa Clara. In the next game against Iona, he came back with five goals and three steals in their 16-8 win.

Despite only one goal in the Harvard game, Petkovic’s point came at a crucial moment in the game. Following a hectic 28 seconds to play in the first half, including a clock error and a Harvard power play, Petkovic found the back of the net with one second to go putting the Colonials up 5-2 heading into the second half. He finished the game with one goal, four assists, four steals and three field blocks.

With the win against the Crimson, GW improved to 6-1 on the season – their best start in Reed’s 15-year tenure. The Colonials are gaining national recognition with three points received in this week’s national top 20 poll that pits USC and UCLA at the top of the chart.

The Colonials will host No. 18 Bucknell, No. 13 Princeton and Navy in this weekend’s home opener.