Men's Water Polo Unveils 2019 Slate
7/11/2019 11:32:00 AM | Water Polo
Colonials seek third straight MAWPC title
WASHINGTON - George Washington men's water polo is set for nine games against foes that finished last season ranked in the national top 20 as part of its 2019 schedule, head coach Barry King announced Thursday.
Seeking a third straight Mid-Atlantic Water PoloÂ
The Buff and Blue will take on the challenge with an experienced group, returning six of their top seven scorers off the squad that equaled the program record with 23 wins last fall on a historic run to the NCAA quarterfinals.
"We are very excited to play this schedule," said King, who enters his third season leading the Colonials. "We will see all of the best teams in the East multiple times to get us ready for the very competitive MAWPC.
"As always, our goals are to win a conference championship and advance in the NCAA Tournament. We think this schedule will give us the best chance to do that."
GW opens the season Sept. 7-8 at the Air Force Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo., beginning with a matchup vs. the host Falcons and also facing Salem, University of the Redlands and La Verne.
The following weekend, the Colonials head to the Princeton Invitational, where they'll face three teams that closed last fall in the national rankings in Santa Clara, St. Francis Brooklyn and the host Tigers.
They'll make final preparations for MAWPC play with four games at the Bucknell Invitational on Sept. 21-22, beginning with a doubleheader vs. St. Francis Brooklyn and Harvard.
The Buff and Blue start their conference schedule with a road trip, traveling to Fordham and Wagner on Sept. 28 before finishing the weekend a day later at La Salle.
GW's home opener comes Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. with a visit from La Salle before the Colonials host Bucknell two days later in a rematch of last season's thrilling MAWPC final.
Rounding out October, the Colonials will make the short conference trips to Johns Hopkins (Oct. 17) and Navy (Oct. 25), in addition to a stop at the Harvard Invitational (Oct. 19-20) for four games against Northeast Water PoloÂ
GW then hosts Johns Hopkins (Nov. 2) and Navy (Nov. 3) before a Senior Day doubleheader vs. Fordham (11 a.m) and Wagner (5 p.m.) on Nov. 9. The Colonials wrap the regular season the next day at Bucknell.
The 2019 MAWPC Championship will be held Nov. 22-24 at Bucknell's Kinney Natatorium in Lewisburg, Pa., with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament.