Thursday, November 29
Stanford, CA
5:45 PM
George Washington University
vs
UCLA
Men's Water Polo Heads to California to Continue NCAA Run
11/26/2018 2:17:00 PM | Water Polo
Colonials face defending champ UCLA in the national semifinals
One of six teams remaining in contention for an NCAA Championship, George Washington men's water polo continues its history-making run in the national tournament on Thursday, facing defending champion UCLA in a 5:45 p.m. (ET) start at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center.
The winner advances to face USC on Saturday in a national semifinal with a spot in Sunday's final on the line.
LAST TIME OUT: Back in the NCAA Championship for the second straight season, GW battled back to earn its first victory in the national tournament last Saturday at Princeton. The Colonials trailed the Tigers by five goals in the third quarter before rallying to win, 14-13, in overtime. First-year Henry Maas' score with 1:19 left in the first overtime period turned out to be the game-winner.
Atakan Destici led the way with three goals, five assists and three steals to help the Buff and Blue advance by defeating Princeton for the first time since 1997. The junior from Turkey became the program's all-time assist leader in the victory, passing Brian Mojica ('15). He enters Thursday's contest with 194 helpers over three seasons, plus 224 goals, which ranks sixth in program history.
Andras Levai netted all three of his goals during a run of six straight GW scores in the second half, while Maas matched his career high with three goals, including a pair in overtime.
MAKING HISTORY:Â The 23 wins are tied for the most in a season in GW history. The Colonials went 23-10 under Van Hoffman in 1997. This group has already clinched the best winning percentage in program history.
GREAT IN GOAL:Â Pyrch is having his best season as a Colonial with 298 saves and a .559 save percentage. After making seven stops against Princeton, the veteran netminder sits fifth on the program's all-time saves list with 578. He's also added 28 steals this fall.
Matt Taylor has also been solid between the pipes for the Buff and Blue. After missing all of last season due to injury, the New Zealand native has returned to the lineup to make 98 saves with a .641 save percentage.
CAREER YEAR:Â Jack Kerwin ranks fourth among Colonials with 53 goals, which is more than he scored over his first three seasons in Buff and Blue combined (43). After posting 19 points in 2017, the Connecticut native has piled up 70 this fall.
AWESOME ATAKAN:Â A three-time MAWPC First Team pick, Destici leads GW in goals (84), assists (72) and points (156). The junior's goal and point totals are both career highs. He currently ranks second on the program's single-season points list behind only Souza, who had 185 points in 1992. With 418 career points, he ranks third in GW history behind Brent Stoll (484) and Souza (521).
THE A-TEAM:Â The trio of Destici, Levai and Andrew Mavis has combined for 375 points via 235 goals and 138 assists this season. All three have been honored as the MAWPC Player of the Week. Mavis ranks second on the team with 80 goals this season after scoring the 200th of his career against Princeton, while Levai has set new career highs in goals (71), assists (64) and points (135).
RISING ROOKIES:Â GW's youngsters have made a major impact during the postseason push. The seven first-years on the roster combined for eight goals, 11 assists and 12 steals over three wins at the MAWPC Championship. In addition to Maas' three goals in the NCAA opener, first-years Nick Schroeder and Finn Lillis also found the net in the win over Princeton. Schroeder is the top scorer of the group with 42 points via 26 goals and 16 assists.
SCOUTING UCLA:Â The Bruins (22-4) begin their hunt for a repeat title and 12th overall after earning an at-large berth into the eight-team field. They fell to top-ranked Stanford at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship before rebounding to take third place with a 7-4 victory over USC on Nov. 18.
Goalkeeper Alex Wolf (153 saves) made the All-MPSF First Team this fall with Quinten Osborne (38 goals) and Jake Cavano (28 goals) earning second-team nods.
GW and UCLA last met in 2017 at the Princeton Invitational with the Bruins coming out on top.
WATCH THIS: Hear from head coach Barry King, Mavis, Destici and Zachary Pendolino before Monday's practice.
The winner advances to face USC on Saturday in a national semifinal with a spot in Sunday's final on the line.
LAST TIME OUT: Back in the NCAA Championship for the second straight season, GW battled back to earn its first victory in the national tournament last Saturday at Princeton. The Colonials trailed the Tigers by five goals in the third quarter before rallying to win, 14-13, in overtime. First-year Henry Maas' score with 1:19 left in the first overtime period turned out to be the game-winner.
Atakan Destici led the way with three goals, five assists and three steals to help the Buff and Blue advance by defeating Princeton for the first time since 1997. The junior from Turkey became the program's all-time assist leader in the victory, passing Brian Mojica ('15). He enters Thursday's contest with 194 helpers over three seasons, plus 224 goals, which ranks sixth in program history.
Andras Levai netted all three of his goals during a run of six straight GW scores in the second half, while Maas matched his career high with three goals, including a pair in overtime.
MAKING HISTORY:Â The 23 wins are tied for the most in a season in GW history. The Colonials went 23-10 under Van Hoffman in 1997. This group has already clinched the best winning percentage in program history.
GREAT IN GOAL:Â Pyrch is having his best season as a Colonial with 298 saves and a .559 save percentage. After making seven stops against Princeton, the veteran netminder sits fifth on the program's all-time saves list with 578. He's also added 28 steals this fall.
Matt Taylor has also been solid between the pipes for the Buff and Blue. After missing all of last season due to injury, the New Zealand native has returned to the lineup to make 98 saves with a .641 save percentage.
CAREER YEAR:Â Jack Kerwin ranks fourth among Colonials with 53 goals, which is more than he scored over his first three seasons in Buff and Blue combined (43). After posting 19 points in 2017, the Connecticut native has piled up 70 this fall.
AWESOME ATAKAN:Â A three-time MAWPC First Team pick, Destici leads GW in goals (84), assists (72) and points (156). The junior's goal and point totals are both career highs. He currently ranks second on the program's single-season points list behind only Souza, who had 185 points in 1992. With 418 career points, he ranks third in GW history behind Brent Stoll (484) and Souza (521).
THE A-TEAM:Â The trio of Destici, Levai and Andrew Mavis has combined for 375 points via 235 goals and 138 assists this season. All three have been honored as the MAWPC Player of the Week. Mavis ranks second on the team with 80 goals this season after scoring the 200th of his career against Princeton, while Levai has set new career highs in goals (71), assists (64) and points (135).
RISING ROOKIES:Â GW's youngsters have made a major impact during the postseason push. The seven first-years on the roster combined for eight goals, 11 assists and 12 steals over three wins at the MAWPC Championship. In addition to Maas' three goals in the NCAA opener, first-years Nick Schroeder and Finn Lillis also found the net in the win over Princeton. Schroeder is the top scorer of the group with 42 points via 26 goals and 16 assists.
SCOUTING UCLA:Â The Bruins (22-4) begin their hunt for a repeat title and 12th overall after earning an at-large berth into the eight-team field. They fell to top-ranked Stanford at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship before rebounding to take third place with a 7-4 victory over USC on Nov. 18.
Goalkeeper Alex Wolf (153 saves) made the All-MPSF First Team this fall with Quinten Osborne (38 goals) and Jake Cavano (28 goals) earning second-team nods.
GW and UCLA last met in 2017 at the Princeton Invitational with the Bruins coming out on top.
WATCH THIS: Hear from head coach Barry King, Mavis, Destici and Zachary Pendolino before Monday's practice.
We're back in the pool getting ready for our NCAA matchup vs. defending national champ UCLA! Hear from Head Coach Barry King, Andrew Mavis, Atakan Destici and Zachary Pendolino before today's practice. #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/uI4RdFE7V3
— GW Water Polo (@GW_WaterPolo) November 26, 2018
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Water Polo
UTL
/ Water Polo
UTL
/ Water Polo
ATT
/ Water Polo
ATT
/ Water Polo
CEN
/ Water Polo
ATT
/ Water Polo
UTL
/ Water Polo
GK
/ Water PoloNo Bag Policy PSA
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