Home Stretch Brings Three-Game Skid

Sometimes coming home isn’t so sweet. For the Harvard men’s water polo team this weekend, Blodgett Pool instead dealt it a sweep. The Crimson lost all three of its games while hosting the ECAC Championships, finishing in last place among the eight team field. For a squad that began the season in promising fashion with a 2-1 record in three road games, Harvard suffered a harsh reality check at the hands of its conference foes. The Crimson fell to Johns Hopkins and Iona on Saturday before closing the tournament with a loss to Brown yesterday.

“We really have to earn our pride back,” co-captain Jay Connolly said. “We’re playing stupid water polo and making mistakes we shouldn’t be making.”

In particular, concerns about the defense have continued to plague the Crimson, which found itself outscored 41-18 in the tournament.

“Our defense is tightening up, but we’re giving up too many transition goals and that has to stop immediately,” Harvard coach Erik Farrar said. “[Team play] is a little raw right now, and we’re not really where we’d like to be.”

As frustrating as a winless tournament may be, however, Farrar sees numerous encouraging signs for his squad.

“We’re a little young this year with only two seniors, so we’ve got a lot of guys still learning to play with each other,” he said. “Once we tighten things up, though, we’ve got a lot of good things in the works. Some of the guys are definitely starting to play better.”

These improved performances earned numerous Crimson competitors a spot on the stat sheet, as eight different players found the back of the net. Co-captain David Tune led the team with six weekend tallies, while sophomore Alex Thompson logged an impressive hat trick against Iona, matching junior Egen Atkinson with three tournament goals.

Perhaps more significant than individual performances, though, was the reminder that the Crimson by no means stumbled in the face of weak competition, but rather battled fiercely against the best of the ECAC. Of the eight teams invited to the Championships, Harvard was the only squad not ranked in the Collegiate Water Polo Association top 10.

Despite the results, many of the Harvard players feel the team should not be counted out.

“[These schools] are our big rivals, and we’re going to have to beat them,” Connolly said. “It’s a marathon to get to Easterns, and the silver lining is that we’re not out of shape.”

BROWN 14, HARVARD 6

The Bears (2-5) jumped out in front early, posting a 4-0 advantage in the first quarter. Two 6-on-5 goals and a converted penalty shot put the Crimson on its heels and prevented the hosts from building any momentum. Connolly played tenaciously in goal, giving Harvard hope by saving numerous breakaway shots, but the Brown onslaught proved too intense. Freshman Mike Katzer scored twice, while fellow rookies Luka Babic and Kevin DiSilvestro each added a goal as the Crimson reserves enjoyed a share of playing time in the second half.

IONA 15, HARVARD 10

In its best effort of the weekend, Harvard challenged the Gaels (5-8) throughout the contest, spotting the visitors a slim 6-4 advantage at the half. Nikhil Balaraman effectively spelled Connolly in the afternoon game, notching 10 saves, but his counterpart Eric Konzem came through with clutch saves for Iona. Tune, Atkinson, and sophomore Bret Voith added two goals each to Thompson’s hattrick, bringing the Crimson to within a goal in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the hosts, the Gaels responded with three unanswered scores, handing the Crimson its second loss and a bitter end to the day.

JOHNS HOPKINS 12, HARVARD 2

Already faced with a difficult tournament, Harvard found little luck in its opening match. The Crimson endured a beating from the eventual champions, as the Blue Jays (5-6) swarmed both ends of the pool. The No. 6 seed proved relentless in transition, scoring the first four goals, including a shorthanded breakaway. Tune was responsible for both of Harvard’s scores and Connolly managed eight saves, but the co-captains could not stop Hopkins’ furious tempo. The Blue Jays built a 9-1 first half lead with several 6-on-5 opportunities before employing ball-control tactics to preserve the victory.

—Staff writer Max N. Brondfield can be reached at mbrondf@fas.harvard.edu.