Water polo team finishes 4th in US

Men's water polo coach Russ Yarworth (left) and team members Justin Houck, Adam Zobler, Adam Moore and J.R. VanderWall chat with interim Chancellor Marcellette Williams before departing for the NCAA Final Four on Nov. 28. The team received Hawaiian shirts with UMass logos from the Alumni Association to wear on their trip to California. (Stan Sherer photo)

he Minutemen were outgunned by Stanford University and Loyola Mary-mount in the Final Four of the NCAA Men's Water Polo Tournament last weekend in Palo Alto, Calif.

     In the first-round game versus top-ranked Stanford on Friday, senior goalie J.R. VanderWall made 15 saves but the Minutemen were only able to score four times as the Cardinal racked up eight points. Stanford went to defeat UCLA in the final round to claim the school's ninth national title.

     "Stanford is a very well-coached team and I am pleased we were able to give them a good game," coach Russ Yarworth said after the contest. "It is tough to come out here since we do not get to see any of these teams play during the year and have to adjust to the different style of referees, but I think we played very well and I am proud of each team member."

     On Saturday, the Minutemen ended their season, losing 14-6 to Loyola Marymount. Senior Adam Moore scored twice and seniors Mike Foley and Evan Lutz accounted for the other scoring. VanderWall made seven saves in goal.

     "It is sad that this is how we ended our season," said senior Greg Trayer. "Still, for the seven of us who played our final game, it was a great way to go out. We won the Eastern Championship and had a great season. We were one of the last four teams remaining in the country."

     The Minutemen finished 28-7, their 10th consecutive 20-win season.