ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The No. 20 Navy water polo team (4-4) opens Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference play during a busy road weekend. The Midshipmen start the weekend against conference foe Wagner (6-6, 1-1 MAWPC) at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning at Denunzio Pool in Princeton, N.J. before taking on No. 9 Princeton (10-2) at 1:30 p.m. The Mids close out the weekend in the Bronx with a conference clash against No. 16 Fordham (8-3, 2-0 MAWPC) on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center.
Saturday's game against Princeton will be broadcast on ESPN+, while Sunday's match up against Fordham will be streamed on CWPATV.com.
PRINCETON COVID-19 POLICY
Fans who wish to attend athletic events at Princeton will be required to follow the below protocols. These policies also apply to working members of the media covering events at Princeton.
This policy is subject to change.
Indoor Athletic Events:
– The University's current visitor policy (
found here) states that all visitors attending an indoor University-sponsored event, public performance, varsity and athletics event, and religious service must be vaccinated with no exceptions. Please note that per this current University policy, children under 12 years of age may not enter any campus buildings or attend any indoor events at this time.
– Masking that covers the mouth and nose is required at all times regardless of vaccination status.
– Social distancing is recommended, when possible. Parties that arrive together can sit together.
– Hand sanitizer stations available inside the facilities.
**Fully Vaccinated is defined as two weeks after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after the single-dose vaccine**
FORDHAM COVID-19 POLICY
Fans at Indoor Events:
– Fans / guests will be allowed at indoor competitions.
– All fans / guests at indoor competitions must show proof of vaccination when they enter campus.
– All fans / guests at indoor competitions must wear a mask while indoors.
– Children under 12 years can attend as long as they can provide a documented COVID test within 72 hours prior to coming on campus. They also need to remain masked at all times indoors and outdoors.
Scouting the Midshipmen
The Midshipmen began competition for the 2021 season, going 4-4. The Mids have posted victories against Salem, Brown and Iona (2x) with three of four losses coming to top-10 opponents (No. 3 Cal, No. 9 UC Davis, and No. 3 Stanford).
Offensively, 23 different players have register points on the season, including 21 who scored at least one goal. The Mids were led by
Isaac Salinas (Spring City, Pa.),
Jake Altmayer (Pasadena, Calif.), and
Ivan Pang (El Monte, Calif.). Salinas leads all Midshipmen with 21 total points, including a team-best 15 goals. Altmayer leads the team with 10 assists and has chipped in six goals for 16 total points. Pang has been balanced in the first two weekends of competition tallying 14 points on six goals and eight helpers.
Defensively,
Caden Capobianco (Laguna Beach, Calif.) and
Max Sandberg (Newport Beach, Calif.) have seen a majority of the action. Capobianco, who was named MAWPC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 14, leads the team with 51 saves in six games played. In addition, the sophomore has a team-high 12 steals to his credit. Sandberg has played in five games with 33 stops and four steals.
Scouting the Opposition
Wagner (6-6, 1-1 MAWPC)
The Seahawks enter the weekend with a 6-6 overall record, including a 1-1 mark in conference play. In the MAWPC, Wagner defeated No. 15 Bucknell, 14-12 in Lewisburg, Pa., before dropping a 15-11 decision to No. 20 Fordham the following morning. Zsombor Gyemant (32g, 34a) and Oliver Fodor (55g, 10a) pace the Seahawk offense, registering 66 and 65 points, respectively. Ethan Zirh has started all 12 games at goal registering 96 saves, while allowing 160 goals.
No. 9 Princeton (10-2)
The Tigers, who rose to No. 9 in the most recent CWPA National Rankings, boast a 10-2 mark on the season, with their only losses coming at the hands of No. 3 Cal at the Navy Open and No. 3 Stanford a the Princeton Invite. Roko Pozaric leads the team with 33 goals, while, Keller Maloney has 25 scores on the year. Pozaric also paces the Tigers with 22 assists for a team-high 55 points. Billy Motherway has worked his way back from an injury. In four games this year, Motherway has stopped 35 shots and is 3-0. Antonio Knez is 7-2 with a .551 save percentage in nine games.
No. 16 Fordham (8-3, 2-0 MAWPC)
The Rams are 8-3 overall and 2-0 in the conference after defeating No. 15 Bucknell, 13-9, and Wagner, 15-10 at the Bison Invitational in Lewisburg, Pa. Fordham is on a four-game winning streak entering the game with Navy, which will be the Rams' home opener. For his efforts at the Bison Invitational, freshman Jacopo Parrella was selected as Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Rookie of the Week.
Last Time Out: vs. Air Force (Sept. 23, 2021)
Navy dropped an 11-7 decision to Air Force on Thursday night at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis. The Midshipmen were hurt by a slow start, scoring just a pair of goals in the first half.
Offensively, the Midshipmen struggled to get into a consistent rhythm on the night, scoring seven goals in the contest.
Hayden Kahn (San Clemente, Calif.) and
Isaac Salinas (Spring City, Pa.) led the team with two goals apiece.
Jake Altmayer (Pasadena, Calif.),
Travis Berzins (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), and
Jack Weggeland (Riverside, Calif.) rounded out the scoring.
Ivan Pang (El Monte, Calif.) accounted for four of the Mids' seven assists on the night.
Payton Comstock (Clarendon Hills, Ill.), Altmayer, and Weggeland also recorded helpers in the game.
Defensively, the Midshipmen used a pair of goalies.
Max Sandberg (Newport Beach, Calif.) started the game and worked the first half. The senior recorded six saves with a steal, while surrendering seven goals. Sandberg gave way to
Caden Capobianco (Laguna Beach, Calif.) in the second half. The sophomore keeper made seven stops with a pair of steals, while giving up four goals.
