Michael Randazzo, Swimming World Contributor
At the conclusion of a hectic weekend of conference play, where all eight entrants to the 2017 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Tournament were decided, one thing stood out: change at the top of varsity polo is rare. Despite the inclusion of the University of the Pacific as the first-ever attendee from the Golden Coast Conference and George Washington as a first-time participant in postseason play, this year’s NCAA bracket is eerily similar to 2016, including the continued absence of Stanford.
A 9-5 win yesterday over University of California at Irvine gave Pacific the Golden Coast Conference title and the GCC’s first-ever NCAA automatic berth. This Saturday the Tigers (19-5) will host an NCAA play-in match against the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer (24-10), back-to-back winners of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s tournament by virtue of a 9-7 win over Whittier, again earning the SCIAC’s automatic qualifier.
The winner of the Pacific versus Pomona-Pitzer match will face University of California at Davis (22-6) in another play in game on Thursday, November 30 at Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles. The Aggies beat University of California San Diego by 9-6 to capture a second-straight Western Water Polo Association title and with it the WWPA’s automatic bid.
The same Pac-12 teams, representing the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation continued their dominance of NCAAs, capturing three berths. Despite a 7-5 loss to USC yesterday in the MPSF tournament final, UCLA (19-4) was a surprising top tournament seed, advancing the Bruins straight into the Final Four. UCLA gets to rest until Saturday, December 3, when they will face either Pacific, UC-Davis or Pomona Pitzer.
Despite winning a second-straight MPSF title, the Trojans (25-3)— seeking a 13th straight NCAA finals appearance—were relegated to an at-large bid. On November 30 they will play whomever advances from the East. Trailing by four goals at halftime, Harvard (23-7) captured a second-straight Northeast Water Polo Conference automatic bid, roaring back for a stunning 11-10 sudden-death overtime decision over Princeton. The Crimson will host a play-in match on Saturday against George Washington (17-10), a first-time NCAA participant by virtue of an 8-5 win over Wagner. The Colonials captured the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference’s automatic berth, besting a Seahawk seven that had knocked out top MAWPC seed Bucknell.
The other at-large berth went to the University of California (20-3), who last year captured the NCAA championship for a record 14th time. The Golden Bears were awarded the tournament’s second seed—advancing them directly to the Final Four—and will likely face MPSF rival USC on December 1.
Left out in the cold for the third year in a row is Stanford (19-5). It’s a devastating turn of events for a program that came into last weekend as both the nation’s top-ranked squad and the #1 seed in the MPSF Tournament. On Friday USC snapped the Cardinal’s 12-match winning streak, dealing them a 10-5 loss in their own pool.
Yesterday, Stanford raced out to a three-goal first period lead, and held a one-goal lead with 11 seconds remaining when Cal’s Luca Cupido tied the match with a long range blast. The Golden Bears then scored twice in the first overtime period and held off a desperate Cardinal rally to take a 10-9 decision and the final NCAA berth.
In what may prove to be a bellwether tournament for some, Stanford Head Coach John Vargas—who red-shirted six seniors for a potential run to an 11th national championship—can only wonder what he must change to earn a spot in America’s most important water polo event.
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Hi: does this mean “sunny for Cal, UCLA and USC” and stormy for everyone else? Or is it just nice to know that—occasionally—a team like George Washington breaks through for the first time. BTW, how FANTASTIC is it that Colonial Head Coach Barry King gets his team to the tournament in his first year on the job?
We spoke early in the season (https://collegiatewaterpolo.org/record-randazzo-george-washington-university-head-coach-barry-king/); I would say neither of us realized what the season might hold!
Your correspondent
Is it a good idea to exclude a team that could possibly win the NCAA Championship? Are there any other NCAA sports that do this?
Bob:
Thanks for your comment. This is a challenging subject b/c it IS crazy that the nation’s top team LAST week is out of the most important tournament THIS week. And—which you probably would not have believed—Wagner College in only it’s second year of existence was AMAZINGLY CLOSE to an NCAA berth.
But, here’s the problem; if the NCAA wants the sport to be national, then you have to find a spot for the Eastern teams. And, by some measures, this tournament is more fair than it was before the 2013 expansion when only TWO Mountain Pacific teams made it to the Final Four. Having said all of this, it’s still stunning that a team with some of the country’s best talent does not get to play at this time of year. And, it’s possible that it will be even harder next year for the Cardinal to qualify when they lose Holland, Kimbell, Chase and Smith (though Luca Cupido will leave the scene as well…) AND the MPSF loses it’s AQ.
Your correspondent
Didn’t Pacific beat UCIrvine in the final? Pretty sure UCI beat LBSU in the semi.
Dear UC Irvine fan:
You are right! I moved too quickly when posting (and just fixed my mistake). BUT, this creates the opportunity for THREE questions:
– Are you satisfied about the Golden Coast Conference and it’s AQ – and how this season worked out for your team?
– Does it surprise you that UCLA, which your Anteaters defeated in September, is the top team in the country? Does this motivate the Trojans to win (as if they need any additional incentive…!)
– Uh, why an Anteater (I could look it up BUT I’d prefer to hear it from someone who knows…)
With thanks,
Your correspondent
http://www.orangecoast.com/essays/uc-irvine-anteater-mascot/
Here you go. Named by water polo players. Maybe they should figure out a way to include all the best teams. How about 16 instead of eight?
AWESOME that the water polo players named the UCI mascot! How many places does THAT happen?!
The women’s tournament has eight entrants and now – with the GCC – the men have eight too. Are either fair in selecting the best programs in the country? No, but – as I’ve written about before – to be a national sport, there has to be representation from the East. If you’re a Stanford fan you HAVE to be in shock; not that it’s incomprehensible that the Cardinal are out but because they went from top of the US polo world to being on the outside looking in at NCAAs.
In the end, NCAA limitations may validate the idea that the MPSF tournament is actually the country’s best because it has FOUR top teams (though IMO the tournament WAS more exciting with nine teams competing).
Thanks for your thoughts,
Your correspondent