Racking up ‘W’s as invite season rolls on

All five Western Water Polo Association teams in action notched wins over the weekend as the preseason non-conference invite schedule gains momentum.

Salem (5-0) continued its fiery start with a pair of wins and is off to its best start since at least 2014. The Tigers are making nets quiver by averaging a healthy 21.0 goals per game in the process. Mercyhurst (1-5), which also picked up its first "W" against Washington & Jefferson, will meet Salem for a non-conference affair this weekend in Lewisburg, Pa.

West Region squads picked up a combined six wins at the Inland Empire Classic, led by Concordia's (3-5) 3-1 mark. CUI edged Pomona-Pitzer by a goal and ended the tournament with a 25-goal performance against Whittier.

BU, the WWPA preseason favorite, hosts its first home game of the season Thursday morning against No. 11 California Baptist in La Mirada. The Eagles put together a 2-1 mark at the IE Classic thanks to Nolan Rapp's 10 goals and eight assists, and stout showing in goal by Mitchell Carpenter over the three games.

FPU played a nailbiter against La Verne and wound up edging the Leopards in sudden death, 16-15. Eugenio Maldonado scored five in the win, including the clincher in the all-or-nothing extra session.

This week only features four teams in action. CUI hits the road for three games while Mercyhurst and Salem compete in a non-conference round robin. Following its home opener, BU will play two games in Long Beach against No. 8 Long Beach and No. 16 Brown.

WWPA Offensive Player of the Week
Concordia junior attacker Jacob Stuart tallied 10 goals in less than 48 hours to help the Golden Eagles go 3-1 at the Inland Empire Classic. The team captain scored a hat trick in each of Concordia's three victories and was credited with three assists as well. Two of his three goals against Pomona-Pitzer came in the third quarter as CUI turned the tide to win by a goal for their first win of the year.

Nominees: Nolan Rapp, Biola; Jacob Stuart, Concordia, Ivan Zivojinovic, Salem

Aug. 28-Sept. 3: Alexandros Kotskar, Gannon
Sept. 4-Sept. 10: Jacob Stuart, Concordia

WWPA Defensive Player of the Week
BU earned its first two wins of the season thanks in large part to their man in the cage, junior goalkeeper Mitchell Carpenter. The Yucaipa native used his length to find 23 saves in two games. He registered 13 saves against No. 11 UC Santa Barabra before putting up 10 in three quarters of work against La Verne.

Nominees: Mitchell Carpenter, Biola

Aug. 28-Sept. 3: Duarte Costa, Salem
Sept. 4-Sept. 10: Mitchell Carpenter, Biola