2012 St. Francis Brooklyn NCAA Final Four Tournament Guide
2012 EASTERN CHAMPIONS
2012 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Final Four December 1-2, 2012 McDonald’s Swim Stadium Hosted by: University of Southern California 2012 MEN’S CWPA EASTERN CHAMPIONSHIPS ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN 10 BUCKNELL, 9 DOUBLE OVERTIME QUICK FACTS
2012 St. Francis College Men’s Water Polo Results QUICK FACTS Location Brooklyn Heights, NY Opponent Result Founded 1859 President Brendan J. Dugan ‘68 Brown L, 9-8 Enrollment 2,600 Fordham W, 9-4 Nickname Terriers California-Berkeley L, 16-3 Colors Red & Blue Bucknell W, 8-7 Affiliation NCAA Division I Mercyhurst W, 14-6 Conference Northeast Bucknell W, 7-5 Home Court (Capacity) Pope PE Center (1,200) Peter Aquilone Court Brown L, 9-8 School Website www.SFC.edu Iona W, 13-12 Athletics Website www.SFCathletics.com Brown L, 14-9 Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Jennifer Lancaster Connecticut College L, 5-0 California Lutheran L, 5-0 ATHLETICS USC L, 15-4 Director of Athletics Irma Garcia ‘80 Long Beach State L, 14-12 Associate Director of Athletics Anthony Kurtin ‘00 California-Davis W, 12-6 Assistant Director of Athletics Carl Quigley ‘75 Princeton W, 9-8 Senior Woman Admin./Dir. of Marketing Meghan K. O’Brien MIT W, 14-11 Director of Compliance Jim Hoffman Harvard W, 14-9 Director of Athletic Communications David Gansell Men’s Water Polo Contact David Gansell Fordham W, 20-11 Assistant Sports Info Director Brian D. Morales ‘08 Connecticut College W, 14-3 Head Athletic Trainer Andrew Cornicello, MED, MS, A.T.C Harvard W, 17-14 Asst. Trainer (MWP Contact) Lynson Willis, A.T.C. Brown * W, 8-7 Asst. Trainer Armando Rodriguez, A.T.C. Navy W, 14-10 Asst. Trainer Justine Stevenson Mercyhurst W, 12-11 Strength and Conditioning Director Yuki Miyazawa Bucknell $ W, 10-9 2OT Asst. Strenght and Conditioning Coach Max Barnhart IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS * Northern Division Championship Athletics Department Phone (718) 489-5490 $ Easterns Championship Athletics Fax (718) 797-2140 Sports Information Phone 1 (718) 489-5369 Sports Medicine Phone (718) 489-5216
COACHING STAFF Head Coach Igor Samardzija Overall Record at St. Francis 66-26 (Fourth) Overall Career Record Same Assistant Coach Filip Sasic Volunteer Assistant Coach Srdjan Mihaljevic Men’s Water Polo Office Phone (718) 489-5365
TEAM INFORMATION Final 2012 Record 16-8 Final 2012 CWPA Record 4-2 2012 Tournament Victories: 2012 Northern Division 2012 CWPA Easterns Previous NCAA Appearances: 2005, 2010
2012 Eastern Tournament MVP Marko Gencic HOW TO REACH US: has 209 career goals. David Gansell, Director of Athletic Communications Phone: 718.489.5369 (w) Phone: 718.930.4237 (c) Fax: 718.797.2140 Email: [email protected] www.SFCathletics.com Brendan J. Dugan, President After 40 years in commercial banking, Brendan J. Dugan decided to return to his alma mater, St. Francis College, as President in 2008. He had served as Chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees before that, and as a member of the Board played a leading role in the College’s $40 million fundraising Campaign for Big Dreams.
President Dugan’s last banking position was Chairman & CEO of Sovereign Bank’s Metro NY/NJ Division. Sovereign had recently acquired Independence Bank where Mr. Dugan worked since 2003. Prior to joining Independence, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Citibank Commercial Markets (2001- 2003), President of European American Bank (1991- 2001) and President and Chief Executive Officer of NatWest USA (1974-1991). While at each of these institutions, Mr. Dugan helped develop and manage the implementation of growth strategies in the areas of Commercial and Retail Banking, Leasing and Real Estate Lending, all of which are integral to the New York economy.
Mr. Dugan is also a Director of Cox and Company, a manufacturer of aerospace parts for military and civil applications.
Reflecting a commitment to community involvement, Mr. Dugan is a board member of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Regional Plan Association, Partnership for New York City, the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, and the Futures in Education Endowment Fund. He also serves on the Finance Council of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. In the past he was active with the New York Bankers Association and was a member of its Board of Directors and Legislative Policy Committee.
Community organizations bestowing honors upon him in the past include the Greater Jamaica Development Corp., the Anti Defamation League of B’Nai Brith, Helen Keller Services for the Blind, the Crohns and Colitis Foundation, the American Jewish Congress, Neighborhood Housing Services, Good Shepherd Services, Touro Law School, St. Francis College, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, The Boy Scouts of America, and Brooklyn Legal Services Corp.
He resides in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn with his wife, Barbara. About St. Francis College St. Francis College was founded in 1859 as St. Francis Academy by a group of newly arrived Franciscan Brothers from Ireland. The Brother’s mission was to educate young men from working-class families in the Brooklyn Diocese. St. Francis Academy provided a sound education with a rigorous curriculum and personal support, all for a modest tuition, characteristics that endure today. In 1884, St. Francis College received its Charter from New York State establishing a literary college which could award diplomas, honors, and degrees. In 1926, St. Francis College built a larger campus near its original site in Cobble Hill, where it remained until the 1960s when the College relocated to its current site on Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights. The new location and opening the College’s doors up to women for the first time led to an influx of students from all five boroughs of New York City and beyond, doubling the student population. The cornerstone of the St. Francis College experience is academics. All students complete a core curriculum that offers a foundation for intellectual and professional growth; once completed, they choose from one of 70 majors, many in the liberal arts and others geared to specific professions, included a five year combined Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Accounting. An honors program serves students of high achievement and a broad scholarship program supports those who are likely to perform well academically. An NCAA-Division I institution, St. Francis College offers students the opportunity to play for any of 19 varsity men’s and women’s athletic teams, including its men’s basketball team, whose program is among the oldest in New York City. Teams compete in many well- known New York City venues such as the USTA National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open, Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island and Aviator Sports at Floyd Bennett Field. Today, first-generation college-goers and students of all backgrounds are among St. Francis College’s diverse population. Its Catholic-Franciscan heritage, central to life at the College, allows faculty and administrators to embrace, support, and encourage all students as they pursue fulfillment of their dreams. Head Coach Igor Samardzija-Fourth Season 66-26 Career Record (Fourth Season) 2012 CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year 2011 CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year 2010 NCAA Final Four, 2012 NCAA Final Four 2010 & 2012 Eastern Champions 2009, 2010, 2012 Northern Division Champions
St. Francis College Men’s Water Polo’s Head Coach Igor Samardzija was hired in the summer of 2009 by St. Francis Director of Athletics Irma Garcia. Since then, Samardzija has directed the Terriers to an overall record of 66-26 and pair of Final Four appearances in 2010 and now in 2012. He was named the 2011 & 2012 CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year. The Terriers have also exceled in the classroom during Samardzija’s tenure. Last season, St. Francis College was among only three schools to receive NCAA Academic Progress Rates (APR) Public Recognition awards in men’s water polo for the 2010-11 academic year. These awards are given each year to teams with APRs in the top 10 percent in each sport. “It is a great honor for me to become a member of the St. Francis family and to be given the opportunity to lead the College’s most successful athletic program,” said Coach Samardzija at the time of his hiring. “I am truly excited about this position and will have trouble waiting for the official start of the season to justify the confidence AD Garcia has in me and the rest of the team.” Samardzija of both Serbian and Croatian descent has spent years in both the European and American Water Polo communities. He has coached the men’s and women’s club teams at Columbia University where he led teams to three state titles (‘06 – ‘08) and was named New York coach of the year twice (’06-’07). He is licensed as a water polo coach by the Italian Olympic Committee and also a volunteer coach and referee at Asphalt Green in Manhattan. Samardzija was also an assistant coach at Tent (Obrenovac, Serbia) and played for both Tent, and Red Star (Belgrade, Serbia). “My mission is to prove that championship caliber water polo is played outside of California by eventually bringing the National NCAA title to Brooklyn Heights where it belongs,” added Coach Samardzija. “Our current roster is composed of the best available national and international talent. Their past performance and stellar academic success make me very optimistic for the future.” Samardzija replaced Carl Quigley, who resigned from his post after coaching the Terriers for 34 years, which included six Northern Division Championships and a trip to the NCAA Final Four in 2005. “Finding someone to fill the shoes of coach Quigley’s was initially a daunting task,” said Garcia. “Igor came to us with a proven track record of success and more importantly, a deep understanding of personal and pool dynamics. We are confident his experience will help to maintain and even enhance the high standards that Carl set for our student athletes.” 2012 St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers Roster
No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown/High School 1 Igor Mladenovic GK 6-3 Jr. Belgrade, Serbia / Sportska Gimnazija 1A Luka Raic GK 6-3 So. Zagreb, Croatia / X. Gimanzija "Ivan Supek" 2 David Lonnberg D/2M 6-1 So. Stockholm, Sweden / Kungsholmens Gymnasium 3 Marko Dzigurski C 6-2 Jr. Novi Becej, Serbia / Sredna Skola Novi Becej 4 Jacob Barashick C 6-3 Fr. Orlando, FL / Bishop Moore Catholic 5 Vuk Vujosevic D 6-2 So. Belgrade, Serbia / Milos Crnjanski 6 Guram Nozadze D 6-0 Sr. Stockholm, Sweden / Kungsholmen Gymnasium 7 Cole Hamre C 6-2 Fr. Orlando, FL / Lake Nona 8 Luka Vukomanovic UT 6-1 Jr. Belgrade, Serbia / 4th Belgrade Gymnasium 9 Bosko Stankovic C 6-2 Jr. Belgrade, Serbia / Sport Gymnasium 10 Marko Gencic A 6-1 Sr. Belgrade, Serbia / Sports Gymnasium 11 Liam Veazey D 6-1 Fr. Dallas, TX / Bryan Adams 12 Tyler Perkins UT 6-1 Jr. Erie, PA / McDowell HS (Pennsylvania) 13 Matthew Varela D/UT 5-8 Fr. La Habra, California / Sonora 14 Aleksandar Jakovljevic UT 5-10 Fr. Apple Valley, California / Granite Hills 16 Balint Toth D 6-6 So. Budapest, Hungary / Kolcsey Ferenc Gimnasium
Coaching Staff Head Coach: Igor Samardzija Men's Water Polo Assistant Coach: Filip Sasic Volunteer Men's Water Polo Coach: Srdjan Mihaljevic 2012 St. Francis Brooklyn Men’s Water Polo Bios # 1 Igor Mladenovic 2012 Season Stats Position:Goalie Quarters Played: 84 Height: 6-3 Shots Against: 494 Class: Junior Saves: 225 Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia Saves PCT: 61.0% High School: Sportska Gimnazja Missed Shots: 77 2010 All-Northern Division 2nd Team selection...2011 All- Goals Against: 192 Northern Division 2nd Team selection...2012 All-Northern Steals: 37 Division First Team selection...2012 All-Tournament Team at Assists: 7 Eastern Championships... Three-time CWPA Northern Division PK’s Saved: 11 Defensive Player of the Week in 2012..He has earned the award Goals: 3 seven times during his three years at SFC...Member of 2010 Kick-outs: 7 Final Four team. Turnovers: 2
# 1A Luka Raic Position:Goalie 2012 Season Stats Height: 6-3 Quarters Played: 12 Shots Against: 67 Class: Sophomore Saves: 21 Hometown: Zagreb, Croatia Saves PCT: 52.0% High School: X. Gimanzja “Ivan Supek” Missed Shots: 14 Goals Against: 33 Steals: 7 Assists: 1 PK’s Saved: --- Goals: --- Kick-outs: 1 Turnovers: 2
# 2 David Lonnberg 2012 Season Stats Position:Defender/2Meter Games Played: 24 Height: 6-1 Shots: 10 Class: Sophomore Goals: 7 Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden Assist: 8 High School: Kungsholmens Gymnasium Steals: 24 Blocks: 1 PK’s Drawn: --- KO’s Drawn: 8 Kick-outs: 24 Turnovers: 7 Swim-off: 7
# 3 Marko Dzigurski 2012 Season Stats Position:Center Games Played: 24 Height: 6-2 Shots: 40 Class: Junior Goals: 20 Hometown: Novi Becej, Serbia Assist: 1 High School: Sredna Skola Novi Becej Steals: 15 Blocks: 1 Member of the 2010 Final Four team. PK’s Drawn: 6 KO’s Drawn: 24 Kick-outs: 9 Turnovers: 26 Swim-off: ---
# 4 Jacob Barashick 2012 Season Stats Position:Center Games Played: 22 Height: 6-3 Shots: 22 Class: Freshman Goals: 7 Hometown: Orlando, Florida Assist: 2 High School: Bishop Moore Catholic Steals: 8 Blocks: --- PK’s Drawn: --- KO’s Drawn: 3 Kick-outs: 6 Turnovers: 11 Swim-off: 1 2012 St. Francis Brooklyn Men’s Water Polo Bios # 5 Vuk Vujosevic 2012 Season Stats Position:Defender Games Played: 22 Height: 6-2 Shots: 80 Class: Sophomore Goals: 35 Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia Assist: 26 High School: Milos Crnjanski Steals: 45 Blocks: 6 2012 CWPA Northern Division Second Team...Scored eight goals PK’s Drawn: 3 in the 2012 Eastern Championships against Bucknell University KO’s Drawn: 16 in the finals...Named Outstanding Player of the Match after the Kick-outs: 27 semi-final match after he scored four goals against Mercyhurst in Turnovers: 27 2012 Eastern Championships. Swim-off: ---
# 6 Guram Nozadze 2012 Season Stats Position:Defender Games Played: 24 Height: 6-0 Shots: 43 Class: Senior Goals: 12 Hometown: Split, Croatia Assist: 20 High School: V.Gimnazija “Vladimir Nazor Steals: 22 Blocks: 1 Member of the 2010 Final Four Team. PK’s Drawn: --- KO’s Drawn: 13 Kick-outs: 40 Turnovers: 19 Swim-off: ---
# 7 Cole Hamre 2012 Season Stats Position:Center Games Played: 20 Height: 6-2 Shots: 14 Class: Freshman Goals: 1 Hometown: Orlando, Florida Assist: --- High School: Lake Nona Steals: 5 Blocks: --- PK’s Drawn: 1 KO’s Drawn: 3 Kick-outs: 13 Turnovers: 12 Swim-off: 1
# 8 Luka Vukomanovic Position:Utility 2012 Season Stats Height: 6-1 Games Played: 22 Shots: 28 Class: Junior Goals: 13 Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia Assist: 1 High School: 4th Belgrade Gymnasium Steals: 18 Blocks: 1 PK’s Drawn: 1 KO’s Drawn: 2 Kick-outs: 13 Turnovers: 20 Swim-off: ---
# 9 Bosko Stankovic 2012 Season Stats Position:Center Games Played: 23 Height: 6-2 Shots: 78 Class: Junior Goals: 42 Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia Assist: 8 High School: Sport Gymnasium Steals: 34 Blocks: 5 2012 All-Easterns Tournament Team selection...Scored PK’s Drawn: 13 four goals on four shots, including the game-winner on a KO’s Drawn: 75 Kick-outs: 24 back-hander with 1:40 remaining in the Northern Division Turnovers: 40 championship match against Brown...Stankovic scored Swim-off: --- three times in the final frame. 2012 St. Francis Brooklyn Men’s Water Polo Bios # 10 Marko Gencic Position:Attack 2012 Season Stats Height: 6-1 Games Played: 24 Class: Senior Shots: 162 Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia Goals: 65 High School: Sports Gymnasium Assist: 39 All-time leading scorer at SFC with 324 points (209 goals & 115 Steals: 30 assists)...Honorable Mention All-American in 2010 and 2011...2010 Blocks: 10 First Team All-East and All-North selection.. 2010 NCAA Final Four PK’s Drawn: --- All-Tournament Team selection...2011 All-North Team selection...2012 CWPA Northern Division Second Team..2012 All Tournament at KO’s Drawn: 15 Easterns...2012 Easterns Most Valuable Player after scoring 15 goals in Kick-outs: 13 three matches including the game-winning tally against Bucknell in the Turnovers: 38 finals. Swim-off: 7
# 11 Liam Veazey 2012 Season Stats Position:Defender Games Played: 24 Height: 6-1 Shots: 60 Class: Freshman Goals: 18 Hometown: Dallas, Texas Assist: 10 High School: Bryan Adams Steals: 25 Blocks: 5 2012 CWPA Northern Division Second Team PK’s Drawn: 1 KO’s Drawn: 6 Kick-outs: 22 Turnovers: 26 Swim-off: 9
# 12 Tyler Perkins Position:Utility 2012 Season Stats Games Played: 14 Height: 6-1 Shots: 5 Class: Junior Goals: 1 Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania Assist: --- High School: McDowell High School Steals: 3 Blocks: --- PK’s Drawn: --- KO’s Drawn: 2 Kick-outs: 4 Turnovers: 1 Swim-off: ---
# 13 Matthew Varela 2012 Season Stats Position:Defender/Utility Games Played: 13 Height: 5-8 Shots: 8 Class: Freshman Goals: 3 Hometown: La Habra, California Assist: 2 High School: Sonora Steals: 2 Blocks: --- PK’s Drawn: --- KO’s Drawn: --- Kick-outs: 2 Turnovers: 3 Swim-off: --- # 14 Aleksandar Jakovljevic 2012 Season Stats Position:Utility Games Played: 10 Height: 5-10 Shots: 12 Class: Red-shirt Freshman Goals: --- Hometown: Apple Valley, California Assist: --- High School: Granite Hills Steals: --- Blocks: --- PK’s Drawn: --- KO’s Drawn: --- Kick-outs: 2 Turnovers: 3 Swim-off: --- 2012 St. Francis Brooklyn Men’s Water Polo Bios # 16 Balint Toth Position:Defender 2012 Season Stats Height: 6-6 Games Played: 23 Shots: 65 Class: Sophomore Goals: 24 Hometown: Budapest, Hungary Assist: 6 High School: Kolcsey Ferenc Gimnazium Steals: 28 Blocks: 10 PK’s Drawn: 4 KO’s Drawn: 3 Kick-outs: 28 Turnovers: 22 Swim-off: ---
2012 St. Francis Brooklyn Men’s Water Polo Stats
Shots Goals Apg Assist Steals Blocks Pk's Drawn KO's Drawn Kickouts Turnovers Swim off SFC TOTAL 552 251 45% 123 303 30 29 173 235 259 25 TEAM AVERAGE 23 10 5 13 1 1 7 10 11 1 OPPONENTS 561 224 40% 259 LEADERS Record (W-L) 18 Goal Differential: 253 10.54 SFC AVERAGE / QTR 6 29 224 9.33 OPP. I Qtr II Qtr III Qtr IV Qtr I Qtr II Qtr III Qtr IV Qtr OT SD Total 2.83 2.29 2.54 2.67 68 55 61 64 5 253 2.04 2.21 2.63 2.33 49 53 63 56 3 224 552 251 38% 123 303 30 29 173 235 259 25 Name Games played Shots Goals % Assist Steals Blocks Pk's Drawn KO's Drawn Kickouts Turnovers Swim off David LÖnnberg 24 10 7 70% 8 24 1 8 24 7 7
Marko D�igurski 24 40 20 50% 1 15 1 6 24 9 26
Jacob Barashick 22 22 7 32% 2 8 3 6 11 1
Vuk Vujoševi� 22 80 35 44% 26 45 6 3 16 27 27
Guram Nozadze 24 43 12 28% 20 22 1 13 40 19
Cole Hamre 20 14 1 7% 5 1 3 13 12 1
Luka Vukomanovi� 22 28 13 46% 1 18 1 1 2 13 20
Boško Stankovi� 23 78 42 54% 8 34 5 13 75 24 40
Marko Gen�i� 24 162 65 40% 39 30 10 15 13 38 7
Liam Veazey 24 60 18 30% 10 25 5 1 6 22 26 9
Tyler Perkins 14 5 1 20% 3 2 4 1
Matt Varela 13 8 3 38% 2 2 2 3 Alex Jakovljevi� 10 2 23
Balint Toth 23 65 24 37% 6 28 10 4 3 28 22
Name qtrs'. plyd Shots against Saves Missed Shts Goals Against Steals Assist Pk's saved Goals Kickouts Turnovers Igor Mladenovi� 84 494 225 77 192 37 7 11 3 72 Saves Percentage 61% Luka Rai� 12 67 21 14 33 7 1 1 2 Saves Percentage 52% Man Down Def: 206 Total Shoots/Saves Men-Up Opportunities 173 5-Meters For 29 26 Man-Down saves: 125 561 Men-Up Scores 90 5-Meters against: 29 18 Percentage 61% 246 Percentage 52%
Category Leaders Category Leaders Category Leaders Category Leaders Games Played Shot Percentage Blocks Kickouts Player Total Player Total Player Total Player Total David Lonnberg 24 David Lonnberg 70.0% Marko Gencic 10 Guram Nozadze 40 Marko Dzigurski 24 Bosko Stankovic 54.0% Balint Toth 10 Balint Toth 28 Guram Nozadze 24 Marko Dzigurski 50.0% Vuk Vujosevic 6 Vuk Vujosevic 27 Marko Gencic 24 Luka Vukomanovic 46.0% Bosko Stankovic 5 David Lonnberg 24 Liam Veazey 24 Vuk Vujosevic 44.0% Liam Veazey 5 Bosko Stankovic 24 Shots Assists PK’s Drawn Player Total Player Total Player Total Turnovers Marko Gencic 162 Marko Gencic 39 Bosko Stankovic 13 Player Total Vuk Vujosevic 80 Vuk Vujosevic 26 Marko Dzigurski 6 Bosko Stankovic 40 Bosko Stankovic 78 Guram Nozadze 20 Balint Toth 4 Marko Gencic 38 Balint Toth 65 Liam Veazey 10 Vuk Vujosevic 3 Vuk Vujosevic 27 Liam Veazey 60 David Lonnberg 8 Cole Hamre 1 Marko Dzigurski 26 Luka Vukomanovic 1 Liam Veazey 26 Goals Steals Player Total Player Total KO’s Drawn Swim Offs Marko Gencic 65 Vuk Vujosevic 45 Player Total Player Total Bosko Stankovic 42 Bosko Stankovic 34 Bosko Stankovic 75 Liam Veazey 9 Vuk Vujosevic 35 Marko Gencic 30 Marko Dzigurski 24 Marko Gencic 7 Balint Toth 24 Balint Toth 28 Vuk Vujosevic 16 David Lonnberg 7 Marko Dzigurski 20 Liam Veazey 25 Marko Gencic 15 Jacob Barashick 1 Guram Nozadze 13 Cole Hamre 1 Road to The Final Four: 2012 Northern Championships
Terriers Capture Northerns With 8-7 Comeback Win Against Brown
The St. Francis Terriers captured the 2012 Northern Division Championship with an 8-7 comeback victory over the host Brown Bears on Nov. 4 in Providence, Rhode Island.
“It was a good overall defensive effort and great run in the last quarter,” said Terriers head coach Igor Samardzija. “I am pleased with the character this team has shown as we managed to win the game after trailing by two for the most part of the second half. This win puts us in a better position going into Easterns yet we need to make sure to take it one game at a time and not overlook our first opponent.”
The #15 ranked Terriers trailed 6-4 entering the final quarter but St. Francis dominated Brown in the final stanza, outscoring the Bears by a 4-1 margin. Bosko Stankovic, who scored four goals on four shots, notched the game-winner on a back-hander with 1:40 remaining in the match. Stankovic scored three times in the final frame.
Marko Dzigurski, Vuk Vujosevic, Marko Gencic, and Balint Toth each added a tally.
St. Francis had dropped all three regular-season meetings against #12 ranked Brown this season before coming through in the finals.
The Terriers also defeated Connecticut College (14-3) and Harvard (17-14) in the tournament. Road to The Final Four: CWPA Eastern Championships PRINCETON, N.J. --Tournament Most Valuable Player Marko Gencic (Sr., Belgrade, Serbia/Sports Gymnasium) skipped home a feed from Balint Toth (So., Budapest, Hungary/Kolcsey Ferenec Gimnazium) with 1:25 left in the second overtime period for the season-deciding tally as No. 12 St. Francis College held off No. 15 Bucknell University, 10-9 OT, to claim the 2012 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Eastern Championship. The Terriers (16-8), who had to overcome a Bison (17-14) fourth quarter comeback that nearly ended St. Francis’ season in the Garden State rather than the sunny shores of the Golden State of California at the University of Southern California for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship on Decemeber 1-2. The Terriers earned an automatic bid to their third NCAA Final Four and their second in the last three seasons after they survived two back-to-back nailbiters to claim the league crown. Gencic, who scored the game-winner with 1:25 remaining, was named the MVP after amassing 15 goals. Following a 12-11 victory over No. 17-ranked Mercyhurst University in the semifinals, the Terriers opened the game with a cold streak as Southern Division Player of the Year Brian Barron (Sr., Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) struck for a five-meter penalty shot at the 5:48 mark to put the Bison in front 1-0. St. Francis tied the score 25 seconds later via a blast by Bosko Stankovic (Jr., Belgrade, Serbia/Sport Gymnasium) at 5:23, but the Bison regained the scoring advantage with 24 seconds remaining in the opening period on a sweeping shot by Mike Kimble (Jr., Lafayette, Calif./Acalenes) to make it 2-1. The Terriers tied the game-up with 6:26 left in the first half as Stankovic found a crack in the Bison defense for a man-up strike. St. Francis gained its first lead of the contest less than two minutes later when Marko Dzigurski (Jr., Novi Becej, Serbia/Sredna Skola Novi Becej) beat Bucknell goalie Matt Napleton (Sr., Oak Park, Ill./ Fenwick) with a shot that skimmed the water and settled into the back of the cage at 4:43 to stake SFC to a 3-2 lead. Similar to the Terriers’ comebacks, Bucknell erased the margin with extreme precision as Barron slammed a five-meter penalty shot past the diving body of St. Francis netminder Igor Mladenovic (Jr., Belgrade, Serbia/Sportska Gimnazija) at 4:31 to even the damage at three-all. Following a penalty call on Toth and a yellow card to St. Francis head coach Igor Samardzija at 1:34, the Bison went back in front courtesy of another succesful five- meter penalty shot by Barron to make it 4-3. However, the pack from New York refused to lay down as Vuk Vujosevic (So., Belgrade, Serbia/Milos Crnjanski) unleashed the equalizer at 1:06 with the squads at even-strength as the Bison and Terriers went to their corners at halftime knotted at four-all. The tie lasted for 46 seconds to start the third quarter before Gencic came alive for his first of three goals on the afternoon to put the Terriers ahead 5-4. For St. Francis, the goal ignited the program’s offense as Vujosevic (5:31), Dzigurski (2:32) and Liam Veazey (Fr., Dallas, Texas/Bryan Adams) (1:25) connected on scoring shots to cap off a 4-0 run to begin the second half and make it 8-4. Bucknell answered the run with one of their own as Alex Nowlin (Jr., Coto de Caza, Calif./Tesoro) finished a six-on-five chance with 54 seconds on the clock to move the Bison within 8-5 at the conclusion of the third quarter. The run continued to begin the fourth quarter as Barron (7:20) and Rookie of the Tournament Stefan Aleksic (Fr., Belgrade, Serbia/Sport Gymnasium) (6:18) rocketed in natural goals to cut St. Francis’ lead down to 8-7. Three and a half minutes later, the lead disappeared as Nowlin notched his second goal of the afternoon to close out the run and balance the scoreboard at eight-all with 2:40 left on the clock. Neither team was able to find the back of the cage in regulation as the Napleton and the Bison defense stymied the Terriers’ offense on man-up chances at 2:18 and 1:06, while St. Francis and Mladenovic turned aside a man-up opportunity with 45 seconds left on the clock to bring on overtime. Bucknell went back in front 26 seconds into the first OT frame as Jack Else (Jr., Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) broke loose for a point-blank shot and score at the 2:34 mark, but St. Francis answered at the 55 seconds mark as a line-drive by Gencic ticked off Stankovic and into the cage to equalize the score at nine-all. Following back-and-forth play to begin the second overtime period during which Napleton and Mladenovic stiffled their opposing shooters, the Bison had a chance to go back in front. After the ejection of David Lonnberg (So., Stockholm, Sweden/Kungsholmens Gymnasium) at 2:42 to put the Bison on the power-play, Bucknell worked the ball around the perimeter looking for an open shot. However, the Terriers’ defense went on the prowl and sniffed out the play to keep the Bison from attempting a shot and force a turnover as the shot clock expired. On the heels of a fruitless St. Francis man-up bid dat 1:48, Gencic rose to the occassion and earned his MVP status by skipping a pass to the right side from Stankovic up and over the left arm of Napleton with 1:25 on the clock for the championship and season deciding factor. Bucknell had two chances over the final minute to put away a tying score and force sudden death, but Mladenovic stopped a shot on a man-up chance with 57 seconds to go. Regaining possession of the ball with 6.83 seconds left on the game clock, the Bison went again went on the power-play as Guram Nozadze (Sr., Stockholm, Sweden/Kungsholmens Gymnasium) made the lonely trek to the corner with three seconds left to hand the Bison one final chance on a man-up opportunity. However, fate did not smile on the Bison as Nowlin’s desperation heave as the clock expired sailed high over the crossbar and the outstretched hands of Mladenovic to crown the Terriers’ the 2012 Collegiate Water Polo Association Eastern Champions. Overall, the title marks Northern Division Champion St. Francis’ third title in seven tries as the team previously captured the 2005 (10-9 W vs. Navy at Harvard University) and 2010 (8-4 W vs. Navy at Bucknell University) championships, while falling in the 1999 (vs. the University of Massachusetts), 2000 (13-12 L OT SD vs. Navy at Brown University), 2004 (3-2 L OT SD vs. Princeton at Bucknell) and 2007 (11-7 L vs. Navy at Harvard) tilts. For the Southern Division Champion Bison, which were making their first appearance in the league title game since 1993, the five-time Eastern Champions (1975, 1977- 80) have now since their best seasons end at the hands of St. Francis. In 2010, Bucknell suffered a 10-9 loss in the CWPA Eastern Championship semifinals at home in Lewisburg, Pa. to the Terriers which prevented the Bison from reaching that year’s championship game. Similar to the 2010 meeting between the two programs, the dogs once again had their day against the Bison.
St. Francis College 1 3 4 0 1 1 10 Bucknell 2 2 1 3 1 0 9 Bucknell Goals: Brian Barron (4); Alex Nowlin (2); Jack Else; Stefan Aleksic; Max McElvy St. Francis Goals: Marko Gencic (3); Vuk Vujosevic (2); Marko Dzigurski (2); Bosko Stankovic (2); Liam Veazey Saves: Bucknell - Matt Napleton (10) ; St. Francis - Igor Mladenovic (6) Exclusions: Bucknell - 5 ; St. Francis - 13 Advantage Opportunities: Bucknell - 4-for-13 ; St. Francis - 1-for-5 Sprints: Bucknell - 6-for-6 ; St. Francis - 0-for-6 Cards: YC - St. Francis (Head Coach Igor Samardzija, 1:34 left in 2nd) Officials: Alex Stankevitch, Michael Goldenberg St. Francis College Men’s Water Polo Recent History & Accolades
ALL CONFERENCE AND POST SEASON AWARDS EASTERN CHAMPIONSHIPS (WINNER RECEIVES NCAA 1999 CWPA Northern Division All Conference Selections AUTOMATIC BID) 1st Team Oliver Djordjevic 1999 2nd place 1st Team Csaba Biro 2000 2nd place loss to Navy 13-12 (SDOT) 2nd Team Ali Gozluk 2001 4th place loss to Harvard 6-7 and UMass 8-3 Coach of the year: Carl Quigley 2002 3rd place loss to Navy 9-7 and win over Princeton 9-6 2003 3rd place loss to Princeton 9-6 and win over Queens 14-11 1999 CWPA Eastern Championship All Tournament Team 2004 2nd place loss to Princeton 3-2 (SDOT) and win over Navy 8-7 1st Team Oliver Djordjevic 2005 1st place wins over Navy 10-9 and Princeton 11-9 2nd Team Roland Manyai 2006 3rd place lost to Princeton 11-10 (2OT) defeated Bucknell 11-7 nd 2007 2nd Place loss to Navy 11-8 defeated Harvard 18-6 2 Team Ali Gozluk 2008 2nd place win against Brown 11-8 2009 Did not qualify 2000 CWPA Northern Division All Conference Selections 2010 1st place wins over Johns Hopkins 9-8; Bucknell 10-9; Navy 1st Team Roland Manyai 8-4 1st Team Ali Gozluk 2011 3rd place win over Brown, 16-10 1st Team Tamas Katona 2012 1st place win over Bucknell, 16-10 2nd Team Csaba Biro EASTERN COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE Player of the Year: Roland Manyai CHAMPIONSHIPS 1998 2nd place 2000 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament 1999 2nd place Co-MVP: Roland Manyai /Ali Gozluk 2000 1st place win over Princeton 15-10, Navy 10-5 and UMass 11-10 2000 CWPA Eastern Championship All Tournament Team 2001 2nd place loss to UMass 9-8 st 1st Team Roland Manyai 2002 5th place loss to Navy 7-5 in 1 round and win over Iona 11-6 2003 3rd place loss to Navy 10-5 2001 CWPA Northern Division All Conference Selections 2004 1st place win over Bucknell 13-10 and Princeton 10-6 st 2005 1st place win over Princeton 10-6 and Navy 14-9 1 Team Peter Felvegi 1st Team Ali Gozluk 2006 1st place win over Navy 10-9 and Bucknell 13-11 nd 2007 1st Place wins over Navy 8-7(OT) and Princeton 9-7 2 Team Ongjen Mustur 2008 1st Place win over Johns Hopkins 16-7 2009 Did not qualify 2001 CWPA Eastern Championship All Tournament Team 2010 1st Place wins over Fordham 19-7; Princeton 7-6; Brown 13-8 1st Team Ongjen Mustur CWPA NORTHERN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS 1999 2nd place 2002 CWPA Northern Division All Conference Selections 2000 1st place win over UMass 9-6 1st Team Peter Felvegi 2001 2nd place loss to Queens 6-4 2nd Team Bela Rex-Kiss 2002 2nd place loss to Queens 9-8 (SDOT) 2003 2nd place loss to Queens 9-10 (SDOT) 2002 CWPA Eastern Championship All Tournament Team 2004 1st place win over Harvard 16-5 1st Team Peter Felvegi 2005 1st place win over Brown 9-7 2nd Team Bela Rex-Kiss 2006 1st Place win over Brown 22-6 2007 1st Place win over Brown 14-10 2008 1st Place win over Brown 15-5 2003 CWPA Northern Division All Conference Selections 1st Team Gergely Fabian 2009 Did not qualify nd 2010 1st Place win over Brown 14-10 2 Team Stepan Mudreac 2011 1st Place win over Brown 11-10 2012 1st Place win over Brown 8-7 2003 CWPA Eastern Championship All Tournament Team NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 1st Team Gergely Fabian 2005 4th place loss to USC 14-8 and Loyola Marymount 12-9 2010 4th place loss to USC 10-7 and Loyola Marymount 9-7 2004 CWPA Northern Division All Conference Selections USA WATER POLO NATIONAL ACADEMIC CHAMPIONSHIP Gergely Fabian RANKINGS Botond Szalma 1998 1st place Aleksandar Stankovic 1999 1st place 2000 1st place 2004 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament 2001 1st place Most Valuable Player: Gergely Fabian 2002 3rd place 2003 6th place 2004 CWPA Eastern Championship All Tournament Team 2004 3rd place st rd 1 Team Gergely Fabian 2005 3 place 1st Team Botond Szalma NCAA DIVISION I ALL AMERICANS 2nd Team Milos Vuksic 1997 Oliver Djordjevic (honorable mention) 2nd Team Aleksandar Stankovic 1998 Oliver Djordjevic (honorable mention) 1999 Oliver Djordjevic (2nd team selection) 1999 Csaba Biro (honorable mention) 2005 CWPA Northern Division All Conference Selections 1st Team Gergely Fabian 2000 Roland Manyai (3rd team selection) st 2000 Ali Gozluk (honorable mention) 1 Team Botond Szalma 2001 Ali Gozluk (honorable mention) 2nd Team Nemanja Pucarevic 2002 Peter Felvegi (honorable mention) Player of the Year: Gergely Fabian 2003 Gergely Fabian (honorable mention) 2004 Botond Szalma (honorable mention) 2005 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament 2004 Aleksandar Stankovic (honorable mention) Most Valuable Player: Botond Szalma 2004 Gergely Fabian (honorable mention) 2005 Stephan Mudreac (honorable mention) 2005 CWPA Eastern Championship All Tournament Team 2005 Gergely Fabian (honorable mention) 1st Team Botond Szalma 2006 Bogdan Petrovic (honorable mention) 1st Team Gergely Fabian 2006 Botond Szalma (honorable mention) 1st Team Dusko Radovanac 2007 Botond Szalma (honorable mention) nd 2010 Marko Gencic (honorable mention) 2 Team Stepan Mudreac 2011 Marko Gencic (honorable mention) Most Valuable Player: Botond Szalma Coach of the Year: Carl Quigley St. Francis College Men’s Water Polo Recent History & Accolades 2006 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player: Dusko Radovanac
2006 Northern Division All Conference Selections Player of the Year Botond Szalma 1st Team Dusko Radovanac 1st Team Bogdan Petrovic 1st Team Botond Szalma 2nd Team Nemanja Pucarevic 2nd Team Filip Kisdobranski Rookie of the Year: Filip Kisdobranski
2006 CWPA Eastern Championship All Tournament Team 1st Team Bogdan Petrovic 1st Team Botond Szalma
2007 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player: Nikola Djuric
2007 CWPA Northern Division All Conference Selections Player of the Year: Botond Szalma 1st Team Nemanja Pucarevic st 1 Team Filip Kisdobranski 2005 Eastern Champions 2008 CWPA Northern Division All Conference Selections Player of the Year: Nemanja Pucarevic 1st Team: Nikola Djuric (Goalie) Boris Plavsic Nemanja Pucarevic 2nd Team: Pedja Predin 2008 CWPA All-East Conference Selections 2nd Team: Nikola Djuric (Goalie) Nemanja Pucarevic 2008 CWPA Eastern All-Tournament Team Nikola Djuric (goalie) Nemanja Pucarevic 2010 ECAC Tournament: Tournament MVP: Igor Mladenovic (Goalie) 2010 CWPA All-Conference Selections 1st Team: Boris Plavsic Marko Gencic 2010 Eastern Champions 2nd Team: Igor Mladenovic (Goalie) 2011 CWPA All-Conference Selections 1st Team: Filip Sasic Marko Gencic 2nd Team: Igor Mladenovic Aleksandar Pantic Coach of the Year: Igor Samardzija 2012 CWPA All-Conference Selecdtions 1st Team: Marko Gencic Igor Mladenovic 2nd Team: Bosko Stankovic Vuk Vujosevic Liam Veazey Coach of the Year: Igor Samardzija ACADEMIC INDIVIDUAL HONORS AND AWARDS 2000 Tamas Bakacs St. Francis College Valedictorian 2012 Eastern Champions 2000 Tamas Bakacs NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship Semi- Finalist 2001 Roland Manyai nominated for “Pete Cutino Award”(NCAA player of the year)
2002 Tamas Katona NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship Winner ($5000.00)
2005 Gergely Fabian NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship Winner ($7500.00)
Other Team Accomplishments 1992 2nd place Mid Atlantic Conference Varsity “B” division
1997 Villanova Wildcat Invitational Champions 8-5 win over Queens College 2006 Academic All American Selections Andrija Vrdoljak 4.00 GPA Dusko Radovanac 3.65 GPA Carlos Omana 3.64 GPA Filip Kisdobranski 3.88 GPA Pedja Predin 3.87 GPA Botond Szalma 3.40 GPA Nemanja Pucarevic 3.87 GPA Overall team GPA: 3.4
2010 Nemanja Simonovic: Elite 88 award 2010 Elite 88 award recipient Nemanja Simonovic 2012 National Collegiate Men'sMenM ' s WaterWt PoloPl Championshippp December 1 -2 UniversityU i it off SSouthern th CCalifornia lif i
December 1 December 2
Game 1 - 1pm1 p.m. PT Game 3 - 1pm1 p.m. PT Game 2 - 3:12 p.m. p m PT Game 4 - 3:12 pp.m. m PT
No. 1 Southern California (27 (27-0) 0)
Game 1
1pm1 p.m.
Game 3 NNo. 4 Air Ai Force F (19-10) (19 10) Game 4 Third Place 11pm p.m. No.No 3 StSt. Francis (NY) (16-8) 3:12 p.m. p m National Champion
Game 2
33:12 12 p.m.
No. 2 UCLA (27-4)