Water polo (5-5, 1-0 MAWPC) took home a split record after its California tournament this weekend, securing fourth place in the conference.
The Revolutionaries faced off against California teams San Jose State (4-1, 1-0 WCC), Fresno Pacific (0-6, 0-1 PacWest), UC Merced (0-7, 0-0 WWPA) and Santa Clara (5-2, 0-1 WCC) following two losses at the Princeton Invitational earlier this month. After placing fifth in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference preseason polls last month, the team currently maintains a split record of 5-5.
The Revs began their weekend with a Thursday afternoon 3-14 loss against No. 9 San Jose State on Spartan territory in San Jose, California. Freshman utility Andrei Khudiakov, junior defender Adonis Vlassis and senior attacker Andrija Sekulic each netted a shot during the game, but the Revs were no match for Spartans’ 14 goals. Vlassis is currently tied for second in the conference for most goals thus far, with 21.
After driving more than two hours south, the Revs took on Fresno Pacific at the Sunnyside Aquatics Complex in Fresno, California, beating the Sunbirds 19-13 on Friday evening. Vlassis collected more than half the team’s points, with eight goals and three assists. Graduate student goalie Luca Castorina guarded the net, racking up seven saves. The Revs’ victory over the Sunbirds extended Fresno Pacific’s losing streak to six games.
Harnessing their previous victory, the Revs beat UC Merced 18-7 during the Bobcats’ season opener at the UC Merced Aquatics Center. GW ended the first half leading 8-4 and the third quarter 14-6. During the game, freshman attacker Antonio Florena — who ranks ninth in the conference for most goals, racking up 16 since the season’s start — and senior utility player Leo Lueddemann each secured four goals. Castorina collected nine saves, adding two more from the game prior.
A Revs victory dealt out a losing streak extension for the Bobcats, lengthening UC Merced’s dry spell to seven straight games.
GW ended the weekend with a loss 10-17 against No. 18 Santa Clara at their Sullivan Aquatic Center. Although only being down three shots at half, the Revs were unable to keep up with the Broncos. Freshman attacker Yam Kabakov, Florena, Sekulic and Lueddemann each bagged two goals and Castorina made 11 saves. Saving 28 goals thus far, Castorina holds third in the conference for most saves.
At the Princeton Invitational on Sept. 14, a week before the California tournament, the Revs lost 7-22 to No. 7 Pacific after trailing 4-11 at half. With a roster that almost doubles the Revs, Pacific was able to rotate their 24 players and tired out the Revs’ 16 men, seven of which are freshmen.
The Tigers netted a goal 45 seconds after gameplay started. Junior defender Adonis Vlassis made the Revs’ first shot of the game 40 seconds later, which the Tigers reciprocated with two more goals. During the third quarter, the Tigers went on a six-goal run, netting six shots in as many minutes. In the fourth quarter, senior attacker Andrija Sekulic notched two goals — the Revs’ only goals during the period.
Following their loss to Pacific, the Revs fell to Harvard 10-16. GW fought back in the first quarter, ending the period 3-4 after Kabakov knocked in two goals and Vlassis one. The Crimson built a lead in the second, capping it 8-5, and gained momentum in the third quarter where they netted five goals. Sekulic tallied two goals during the third quarter, the only goals that period for the Revs, and GW notched three goals in the final quarter.
The Revs will face off against conference rival Wagner on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Staten Island, New York, giving the Revs an opportunity to break their split record and advance in conference play.
