Spring Break
Water polo drowns competition as usual
Issue date: 11/8/07
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Hopkins's men's water polo team finished their regular season with a 12-12 record after competing in the CWPA Southern Championships in Annapolis over the weekend. The squad finished with three wins and one loss, losing in the championship game to the host team, the Naval Academy.
The Jays entered the tournament seeded third. They squared off Saturday morning against ninth-seeded Penn State Behrend, whom they easily managed. The final score of 15-4 sent a message of dominance out to the other teams competing at the tournament.
That night, Hopkins got right back into the pool to face sixth seeded Mercyhurst College. The dominance displayed in the first game was challenged by the Lakers, who were only behind by two after three quarters of play. However, the fourth quarter belonged to Hopkins, who outscored the Lakers and won their bracket with a 13-9 victory.
Sunday morning, the Jays battled it out with George Washington University in semifinal action. The Jays handed GW an early 2-0 deficit, but the Colonials came back and finished off the first quarter with a 4-3 lead. Still confident, Hopkins shut out the Colonials in the second period to grab a 5-4 lead at halftime.
The lead was extended to two during the third quarter. GW caught up, though and was only a single goal behind Hopkins with six minutes remaining. Despite two possessions in the final minutes, the Colonials were not able to convert as Hopkins took the narrow 6-5 victory.
The win advanced Hopkins into the championship game against top-seeded Navy, who went in with a No. 10 national ranking.
The semifinal win was not just a school best in the tournament; it also secured Hopkins a spot in history as it was the furthest any Division III water polo program has ever advanced in the Southern Championships.
The championship game against Navy would prove to be a true test. The Naval Academy had finished off their regular season at 22-5, including two wins against the Jays.
The Jays entered the tournament seeded third. They squared off Saturday morning against ninth-seeded Penn State Behrend, whom they easily managed. The final score of 15-4 sent a message of dominance out to the other teams competing at the tournament.
That night, Hopkins got right back into the pool to face sixth seeded Mercyhurst College. The dominance displayed in the first game was challenged by the Lakers, who were only behind by two after three quarters of play. However, the fourth quarter belonged to Hopkins, who outscored the Lakers and won their bracket with a 13-9 victory.
Sunday morning, the Jays battled it out with George Washington University in semifinal action. The Jays handed GW an early 2-0 deficit, but the Colonials came back and finished off the first quarter with a 4-3 lead. Still confident, Hopkins shut out the Colonials in the second period to grab a 5-4 lead at halftime.
The lead was extended to two during the third quarter. GW caught up, though and was only a single goal behind Hopkins with six minutes remaining. Despite two possessions in the final minutes, the Colonials were not able to convert as Hopkins took the narrow 6-5 victory.
The win advanced Hopkins into the championship game against top-seeded Navy, who went in with a No. 10 national ranking.
The semifinal win was not just a school best in the tournament; it also secured Hopkins a spot in history as it was the furthest any Division III water polo program has ever advanced in the Southern Championships.
The championship game against Navy would prove to be a true test. The Naval Academy had finished off their regular season at 22-5, including two wins against the Jays.
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