Water Polo Posts Perfect Weekend at Princeton Invitational

Saturday, September 10

Princeton, NJ

8 AM

George Washington University

Cal Lutheran

9/11/2022 7:59:00 PM | Water Polo

GW earns first ranked win of the year as part of 3-0 event

PRINCETON, N.J. - GW water polo notched three impressive victories at the Princeton Invitational, extending its winning streak in the process to six games. The Buff & Blue topped Cal Lutheran (12-8), #18 St. Francis Brooklyn (14-13, OT) and Iona (15-9) to improve to 6-1 on the year.

Weekend Stats:

- Reigning MAWPC Player of the Week Theodoros Pateros had perhaps an even more impressive weekend, matching his 15-goal outburst from last week in one fewer game.

- Pateros has recorded at least three goals in every game this year, including a six-goal effort vs. Cal Lutheran and a five-goal match vs. Iona.

- Antonin Kralj scored five goals, including the game-winner vs. St. Francis Brooklyn, to set a new career-high.
- Mateus Stellet keyed the win over Iona wth a GW-best four goals, adding two assists.

- Luca Castorina was steady in net, making 40 saves across the three matches with a .571 save percentage.

GW 12, Cal Lutheran 8: The weekend opened with a back-and-forth battle against the nationally-ranked Kingsmen from the Division III ranks. The Buff & Blue broke open the early tie with three straight goals in the middle of the second quarter, ultimately taking a 7-4 lead into the break.

Pateros was the story for GW. A week after earning MAWPC Player of the Week honors, the graduate student scored six times in the game, helping the Colonials stay on top.

Luca Castorina notched a season-high 20 saves in net to keep the Kingsmen at bay as the Buff & Blue maintained at least a three-goal lead the whole second half.

GW 14, #18 St. Francis Brooklyn 13 (OT): The Buff & Blue earned their first ranked win of the year, defeating St. Francis Brooklyn with a pair of markers in the extra session. Pateros put GW ahead, 13-12, in OT before Antonin Kralj gave GW separation with his fifth marker of the game to put things away.

Kralj had tied the game for GW with nine seconds remaining in regulation as part of his career-high, five-goal effort. Neither team led by more than two in the match as GW built an 8-6 lead at the break, only to see the Terriers even things up heading to the final frame.

Along with Kralj's five goals, Pateros scored four more tallies, marking his fifth straight game with at least four goals.

GW 15, Iona 9: The Buff & Blue pulled away with a 10-goal second half to secure the weekend sweep. Trailing 4-3 late in the second quarter, Pateros tallied consecutive markers to send GW into the locker room up 5-4.

Iona drew within two, 10-8, early in the fourth quarter but GW scored five consecutive goals in the next five minutes to put things away with their sixth straight win.

GW 12, Cal Lutheran 8
CL--2-2-1-3--8
GW--3-4-2-3--12

GW Goals: Pateros 6, Bruggen 2, Stellet 2, Davis 1, Jovanovic 1
GW Assists: Stellet 3, Schroeder 2, Russo 1, Sekulic 1, Jovanovic 1, Wheeler 1, Kralj 1
GW Steals: Schroeder 1, Sekulic 1, Smith 1
GW Field Blocks: Lillis 2, Kralj 1
GW Ejections Drawn: Sekulic 1, Pateros 1
GW Saves: Castorina 20

GW 14, #18 St. Francis Brooklyn 13 (OT)
SFB--2-4-5-1-1--13
GW--3-5-3-1-2--14

GW Goals: Kralj 5, Pateros 4, Schroeder 2, Sekulic 1, Jovanovic 1, Stellet 1
GW Assists: Jovanovic 2, Lillis 1, Wheeler 1, Kralj 1, Stellet 1
GW Steals: Schroeder 1, Maas 1, Sekulic 1, Pateros 1, Kralj 1
GW Field Blocks: Pateros 2, Kralj 1
GW Ejections Drawn: Pateros 4, Stellet 1
GW Saves: Castorina 10

GW 15, Iona 9
IONA--1-3-3-2--9
GW--3-2-5-5--15

GW Goals: Pateros 5, Stellet 4, Sekulic 2, Jovanovic 1, Wheeler 1, Kalish 1, Kralj 1
GW Assists: Maas 3, Pateros 3, Sekluic 2, Stellet 2
GW Steals: Sekluic 1, Jovanovic 1, Wheeler 1
GW Field Blocks: Schroeder 1, Pateros 1, Bruggen 1, Stellet 1
GW Ejections Drawn: Pateros 3, Lueddemann 1
GW Saves: Castorina 10