2009 Men's Eastern Championship Set for November 20-22 at MIT

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- The next Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) men's varsity champion will be crowned in Boston for the second time in three years as the 2009 Men's Eastern Championship will be contested on November 20-22 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Al '51 and Barrie Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center.

Recently dubbed "City of Champions" by ESPN due to Boston's recent streak of dominance in sports, with the Boston Red Sox, Celtics, and New England Patriots each winning World Championships in the new millenium, one of the eight participating teams in the Eastern field will earn the right to be called "champion" in the city.

Contested among the CWPA's eight top-finishing teams, with four coming from both the Southern and Northern Divisions, the championship could see history made or a new team rise to prominence in the league.

The United States Naval Academy, which has claimed the past three titles at Princeton University (2006), Harvard University (2007) and at home in Annapolis, Maryland (2008), will have a chance to make history if the Midshipmen can finish among the top four teams in the Southern Division and qualify for the Eastern Championship.

In the history of the league, only two programs have won four consecutive Eastern crowns as University of Massachusetts (1993-96) and Bucknell University (1977-80) achieved the feat,  a pair which the Midshipmen would like to join this year.

However, the rest of the league will have a say in Navy's hopes for a fourth, if the Midshipmen qualify for the championship, as Brown University, Connecticut College, Fordham University, Harvard University, Iona College, MIT, Queens College, Bucknell University, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University, Gannon University, Mercyhurst College, Penn State Erie-The Behrend College, Salem International University and Washington & Jefferson College will stake their claims for a spot in the field, the 2009 title and the league's automatic berth to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship to be hosted at Princeton with a shot at the national title on the line.

Competition will begin on Friday, November 20 at 11:30 a.m. with four games on the first day of competition.  Day Two will begin at 1:30 on Saturday, November 21, before the placement games commence on Sunday, November 22 at 10:00 a.m.

More information on the 2009 men's season will be posted in the coming weeks.