George Washington University Athletics

Men’s Water Polo Caps Perfect Opening Weekend
9/2/2018 8:09:00 PM | Water Polo
Colonials downed La Salle and Iona on Sunday
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- George Washington men's water polo wrapped up a perfect opening weekend Sunday with two more wins at the Navy Open.
The 18th-ranked Colonials thumped Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference foe La Salle, 22-3, to open the day before dropping Iona, 18-7, to move to 4-0 for the season.
Josh Yardley, a first-year attacker from Pennsylvania, totaled seven goals and six steals on the day, while sophomore utility Andras Levai tallied six goals and five assists with all eight of his steals against Iona in a career-best effort.
GW 22, La Salle 3: The Colonials put together a dominant effort in the opener, racing out to a 15-2 lead by halftime. They trailed 2-1 in the early going before scoring 17 straight goals during a run that stretched into the final minute of the third quarter.
Yardley shined, setting career highs with four goals and five steals. First-year Nicholas Polydefkis added two goals, two assists and a steal, while Levai, Atakan Destici, Andrew Mavis, Jack Kerwin, Henry Maas, Finn Lillis and DJ Davis also netted two goals apiece.
Austin Pyrch made a season-high 13 saves in net to highlight GW's best defensive effort of the young season.
GW 18, Iona 7: The Colonials scored the first eight goals en route to victory in the weekend finale. Destici's goal with 55 seconds left in the first half extended the lead to 8-0, and the advantage reached double digits on a goal by Mavis two minutes into the third quarter.
Levai made a difference on both ends with his four goals, two assists and eight steals. Destici paced the offense with a season-high five goals, three assists and three steals, while Yardley scored three times and Jordan Blosser found the net twice.
UP NEXT: GW is set for three games at the Princeton Invitational next weekend, including a Saturday matchup with No. 11 Harvard in a rematch from last season's NCAA Tournament.
GW 22, La Salle 3
GW -- 7-8-4-3--22
La Salle --2-0-1-0--3
GW Goals: Yardley 4, Destici 2, Mavis 2, Kerwin 2, Maas 2, Levai 2, Lillis 2, Polydefkis 2, Davis 2, Gill 1, Slaughter 1.
GW Assists: Destici 5, Levai 3, Polydefkis 2, Kerwin 1, Slaughter 1, Maas 1, Pendolino 1.
GW Steals: Yardley 5, Davis 2, Polydefkis 1, Schroeder 1, Lillis 1, Kerwin 1, Mavis 1.
GW Ejections Drawn: Blosser 4, Pendolino 2, Mavis 1, Gill 1, Kerwin 1.
GW Saves: Pyrch 13.
GW 18, Iona 7
GW -- 3-5-5-5--18
Iona --0-1-3-3--7
GW Goals: Destici 5, Levai 4, Yardley 3, Blosser 2, Mavis 1, Slaughter 1, Maas 1, Lillis 1.
GW Assists: Destici 3, Levai 2, Maas 1, Faulkner 1, Yardley 1.
GW Steals: Levai 8, Destici 3, Mavis 1, Maas 1, Blosser 1, Schroeder 1, Yardley 1.
GW Ejections Drawn: Mavis 2, Destici 1, Kerwin 1, Polydefkis 1.
GW Saves: Pyrch 9.
The 18th-ranked Colonials thumped Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference foe La Salle, 22-3, to open the day before dropping Iona, 18-7, to move to 4-0 for the season.
Josh Yardley, a first-year attacker from Pennsylvania, totaled seven goals and six steals on the day, while sophomore utility Andras Levai tallied six goals and five assists with all eight of his steals against Iona in a career-best effort.
GW 22, La Salle 3: The Colonials put together a dominant effort in the opener, racing out to a 15-2 lead by halftime. They trailed 2-1 in the early going before scoring 17 straight goals during a run that stretched into the final minute of the third quarter.
Yardley shined, setting career highs with four goals and five steals. First-year Nicholas Polydefkis added two goals, two assists and a steal, while Levai, Atakan Destici, Andrew Mavis, Jack Kerwin, Henry Maas, Finn Lillis and DJ Davis also netted two goals apiece.
Austin Pyrch made a season-high 13 saves in net to highlight GW's best defensive effort of the young season.
GW 18, Iona 7: The Colonials scored the first eight goals en route to victory in the weekend finale. Destici's goal with 55 seconds left in the first half extended the lead to 8-0, and the advantage reached double digits on a goal by Mavis two minutes into the third quarter.
Levai made a difference on both ends with his four goals, two assists and eight steals. Destici paced the offense with a season-high five goals, three assists and three steals, while Yardley scored three times and Jordan Blosser found the net twice.
UP NEXT: GW is set for three games at the Princeton Invitational next weekend, including a Saturday matchup with No. 11 Harvard in a rematch from last season's NCAA Tournament.
GW 22, La Salle 3
GW -- 7-8-4-3--22
La Salle --2-0-1-0--3
GW Goals: Yardley 4, Destici 2, Mavis 2, Kerwin 2, Maas 2, Levai 2, Lillis 2, Polydefkis 2, Davis 2, Gill 1, Slaughter 1.
GW Assists: Destici 5, Levai 3, Polydefkis 2, Kerwin 1, Slaughter 1, Maas 1, Pendolino 1.
GW Steals: Yardley 5, Davis 2, Polydefkis 1, Schroeder 1, Lillis 1, Kerwin 1, Mavis 1.
GW Ejections Drawn: Blosser 4, Pendolino 2, Mavis 1, Gill 1, Kerwin 1.
GW Saves: Pyrch 13.
GW 18, Iona 7
GW -- 3-5-5-5--18
Iona --0-1-3-3--7
GW Goals: Destici 5, Levai 4, Yardley 3, Blosser 2, Mavis 1, Slaughter 1, Maas 1, Lillis 1.
GW Assists: Destici 3, Levai 2, Maas 1, Faulkner 1, Yardley 1.
GW Steals: Levai 8, Destici 3, Mavis 1, Maas 1, Blosser 1, Schroeder 1, Yardley 1.
GW Ejections Drawn: Mavis 2, Destici 1, Kerwin 1, Polydefkis 1.
GW Saves: Pyrch 9.
Players Mentioned
GW Women's Basketball vs. Loyola-Chicago (WNIT Super 16 Post-Game Press Conference)
Saturday, March 28
2025-26 GW Athletics Jersey Recognitions
Monday, March 23
GW Women's Basketball vs. Bradley (WNIT Post-Game Press Conference)
Friday, March 20
GW Men's Basketball vs. St. Bonaventure (Post-Game Press Conference)
Thursday, March 05





















