Men's Water Polo Opens Season at Navy Open

Saturday, September 3

Annapolis, MD

9:15 AM

George Washington University

Princeton

Luca Castorina makes a saves vs. Mount St. Mary's.

9/2/2022 10:29:00 AM | Water Polo

Colonials ranked second in preseason MAWPC poll

WASHINGTON - GW men's water polo begins its 2022 campaign this weekend with a quartet of matches at the Navy Open in Annapolis, Md. The Buff & Blue will take on Princeton (9:15 a.m.) and Biola (2:15 p.m.) on Saturday before battling Mt. San Antonio (10:30 a.m.) and Salem (1:30 p.m.) on Sunday.

ATTENDING THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES: The United States Naval Academy is closed to all vehicles without a Department of Defense-approved identification card. All other visitors are encouraged to park downtown and walk through the security gates at Gate 1. When walking on, those ages 18 and over must present a photo identification card (driver's license) to gain access and those ages 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

ABOUT LAST YEAR: GW took third at last season's Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Championship, edging Wagner, 11-9, in the season finale. Viktor Jovanovic and Luca Castornia were named to the All-Championship team for their efforts in addition to Second Team All-Conference honors. Andras Levai was also named to the All-MAWPC second team and is now on staff as a graduate assistant.

IN THE POLLS: GW received five votes in the Preseason Collegiate Water Polo Assocation National poll, currently the first team outside of the top 20. The Colonials were projected to finish second in the MAWPC, one point behind preseason favorite Fordham.

BACK IN BUFF & BLUE: Jovanovic and Castorina headline the returning corps for GW. Jovanovic has earned All-Conference accolades in both of his seasons for the Colonials. Last year, he piled up a program-record 79 exclusions drawn in 26 games and ranked fourth with 31 goals.

Castorina recorded 349 saves in net last year, the second-most in a campaign in program history. He finished with a .541 save percentage and also added 43 steals and 13 assists to earn the All-Conference distinction. He earned MAWPC Defensive Player of the Week award three times during the regular season.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION: GW will open the season with the defending Northeast Water Polo Conference Champion in Princeton. The Tigers, ranked No. 10 at season's end, fell in the NCAA Quarterfinals to No. 1 UCLA, and are ranked No. 11 in this year's CWPA preseason poll.

Biola was projected ninth in the preseason Western Water Polo Association poll. The Eagles are in their second year of existence and went 3-22 in the program's first season.

Mt. San Antonio competes in the South Coast Conference and earned a third place finish a year ago, going 12-17 overall. Mt. SAC advanced to the regional tournament of the California Community College Athletic Assocation last season, falling in the first round.

Salem finished third in the MAWPC West Region last year, finishing 13-13 overall. Sunday will be the first of two meetings this year between the Colonials and the Tigers, with a second matchup scheduled on September 25 in Erie, Pa.