University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Navy
Men's Water Polo Falls In Navy Invitational Championship Game
September 02, 2001 | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 2, 2001
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The University of Massachusetts men's water polo team knocked off St. Francis, 9-4, in the semifinal, but fell to host school Navy, 8-6, in the final of the Navy Labor Day Invitational this afternoon. The Minutemen were led by senior Mike Foley (Tustin, Calif.) who scored five goals in the two games today and eight on the weekend.
In the semifinal win over St. Francis, junior Nate Heydorff (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) scored two goals along with three from Foley to lead the Minutemen attack. In net, senior J.R. VanderWall (Rockford, Mich) made 12 saves.
In the championship game Foley and junior Chad Arnold (Mohnton, Pa.) each netted two goals, but it was not enough as the Midshippmen were victorious.
The second-place finish for UMass was its best since they were the runner-up in 1998 at the Navy Labor Day Invitational. They went on to finish fourth at the NCAA Tournament that season. They have now competed in this tournament for the last eight years.
Yesterday the Minutemen defeated the Navy AC squad, 12-4, and Bucknell, 11-5, en route to today's winner's bracket.
The Minutemen will next be in action Sept. 8-9, when they travel to Cambridge, Mass. to participate in the Harvard Invitational.
