George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Mercyhurst
Water Polo Goes 3-1 on Opening Weekend at Navy Invitational
9/8/2024 7:35:00 PM | Water Polo
Revolutionaires start 2024 season on a positive note
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The GW water polo team closed out opening weekend at the Navy Invitational with a 3-1 record. The Revolutionaries started well on Saturday with comfortable wins over Mercyhurst (17-8) and McKendree (21-11), before splitting games on Sunday, falling to No. 5 Princeton (18-3) before rebounding against Salem (16-15).
GAME 1: GW 17, Mercyhurst 8
GW started off the season on the right foot on Saturday morning, defeating MAWPC newcomer Mercyhurst by nine scores. The Revolutionaries started fast, going up 7-2 in the first quarter, before adding to the lead in the second quarter and bringing a 12-3 advantage into halftime. The game slowed to start the second half with just three total goals in the third quarter, and with a comfortable 14-4 lead going into the final frame, GW cruised to a 17-8 victory and moved to 1-0 in conference play.
GW spread the wealth on offense in the opener as four players tied for the team lead of three goals: newcomers Yam Kabakov and Adonis Vlassis, and returners Kai De Orbeta and Andrea Sekulic. Antonio Florena was the only GW Rev with multiple assists (3), and he also led the team with four steals. Graduate student goalkeeper Luca Castorina made 13 saves, while first-year goalkeeper Connor Jermain made three saves of his own.
All 16 rostered student-athletes got into the game vs. Mercyhurst as Kabakov, Florena, Jermain, Rowan Keane, Joseph McCreary, Griffin Yamaoka, and Andrei Khudiakov each made their collegiate debuts, and Vlassis made his GW debut.
GAME 2: GW 21, McKendree 11
The late game on Saturday was another successful outing for the Revolutionaries as they defeated the McKendree Bearcats 21-11. GDUB outscored McKendree 5-2 in each of the first two quarters to hold a 10-4 lead at halftime. In the third, the GW used a four-goal run to create more separation and build its lead to 16-6, and the Buff & Blue stayed course in the fourth quarter, outscoring McKendree 5-4, en route to its 21-11 win.
St. Francis College (Brooklyn) transfer Vlassis led the Revolutionaries in game two on both ends of the pool, scoring six times and nabbing five steals. Florena and Kabakov had big games on the offense with four goals apiece, while much of the offense ran through Sekulic who finished the game with five assists. Both Castorina and Jermain appeared in net, and they were led by Castorina with six saves and two assists.
GAME 3: GW 3, No. 5 Princeton 18
Fresh off their 2023 NCAA Tournament semifinal appearance, No. 5 Princeton presented a challenge for the Revolutionaries who were facing one of the nation's best teams. The Tigers' - who were already 2-0 after picking up wins over Biola (24-2) and Occidental (31-7) - talent was evident again vs. the Revolutionaries as they blanked GW, 9-0, in the first half. GW broke through early in the second half, but the hill was too steep to climb as Princeton closed out their 18-3 win.
Vlassis, Sekulic and Keane had the goals for GW. Castorina played the entire game vs. Princeton, making 10 saves and holding the Tigers to a season-low 18 goals.
GAME 4: GW 16, SALEM 15
The final game of the weekend proved to be the tightest as GW closed the weekend against Salem. As they did on Saturday, the Revolutionaries got out to a fast start vs. the Tigers, claiming the first four goals of the match and holding a 6-2 through one quarter. Neither team gave way in the second quarter, and with three goals a side, GW held a 9-5 lead through 16 minutes. The game remained at arms reach until late in the fourth quarter when Salem mounted their comeback attempt; the Tigers scored four-straight goals in the final two minutes to bring themselves within one, but the comeback was not to be as GW closed the door with its 16-15 victory.
Florena paced GDUB with five goals and four steals in the weekend finale. Sekulic picked up four goals and added two assists, while both De Orbeta and Vlassis had two goals apiece. Castorina played the whole game in goal, making 16 saves on 35 attempts.
UP NEXT
GW travels up to Princeton, N.J. next weekend for two neutral-site ranked games at the Princeton Invitational on Saturday. The Revolutionaries will face off against No. 7 Pacific at 12:30 p.m., followed by a game vs. No. 15 Harvard at 6:30 p.m.
