George Washington Rolls Over Harvard 12-5 in ECAC Championship Opening Game

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Freshman goalkeeper Cameron Illes led a solid defensive effort with a season-high 14 saves and the George Washington men's water polo team rolled past Harvard, 12-5, in the opening round of the ECAC Championship Friday evening.

Eighth-seeded GW (3-7) next faces top-seeded No. 13 Navy at 11:30 am Saturday morning. The Colonials will then face either Fordham University, Connecticut College, Bucknell University or No. 20 Johns Hopkins University later Saturday afternoon.

Senior John-Claude Wright totaled six points on two goals and four assists as the Colonials outscored the Crimson 9-4 in the second half to post the seven-goal victory and avenge last week's loss to Harvard at the Princeton Invitational.

Sophomore Cray Rogers led the offense with three goals and senior Nick Archambault matched a career-high three assists. Senior Rick Rogers and rookies Guy Helman and John Paul Bezerra had two goals apiece, while freshman Ross Kirkbaumer netted one.

Harvard, which finished the game 2-for-10 on man-up opportunities, moves to 2-7 on the season.

Five different Crimson players found the back of the net, as Alex Thompson, Dan Furman, Bret Voith, Kevin DiSilvestro and Max Eliot, the reigning CWPA Northern Division Rookie of the Week, each scored a goal. Nikhil Balaraman played in net, stopping seven shots by the Colonials.