This could be a season of destiny. Or, it could be another close call.
It depends on what team hits the water this weekend, when the No. 13 Massachusetts men’s water polo team travels to Providence, R.I., to compete in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Northern Division playoff. If it’s the team that scored 68 goals in four games two weeks ago, the team that has dominated every team it was supposed to dominate, then a trip to the NCAA Tournament could be in the cards.
However, if it’s the team that has only surfaced a few times this season, but gave up games to key opponents like Navy and Princeton, then the road to glory may be out of service.
It all comes down to a weekend in which UMass will see the strongest of the Northern Division – teams like Queens and St. Francis, two teams that have given the Minutemen their biggest tests this season. UMass, which finished the regular season at 20-3 overall (9-1 CWPA), can prove itself worthy of representation in the Eastern Championship if it can finally put away Queens, which handed the Maroon and White a tough double overtime loss earlier in the season.
Or, if the cookie crumbles another way, it could come down to a third meeting with the Terriers of St. Francis, which has held a lead against UMass into the fourth quarter of each game this year.
The positives heading into the weekend are numerous. Massachusetts won the ECAC tournament last weekend, handily defeating each opponent until they met up with the Terriers in the final. In that game, St. Francis held off the Maroon and White offense, until a breakthrough in the fourth quarter, when UMass came back to win in dramatic fashion.
Furthermore, senior Mike Foley was named CWPA player of the week yesterday, the second consecutive week the award was given to a Minuteman. Last week, sophomore Dave Liebert earned the honor for his play in UMass’ offensive explosion the weekend prior.
However, the negatives are mounting. According to Head Coach Russ Yarworth, Foley has a bruised rib, and has not practiced yet this week. The team is also dealing with academic issues.
“It’s been a rough week at practice,” Yarworth said, “I’m not feeling that positive about it. I hope to keep Foley out of the Friday game [against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology], as well as Saturday Morning [against Connecticut College].”
There couldn’t be a much worse time for negativity. The Minutemen will also be missing senior Greg Trayer, who has led the team in every area. Trayer will be tending to family matters, and will be unavailable for the entire weekend.
“Not being full-strength will probably be a handful,” Yarworth said.
But, all is not lost. The team is still intact for the most part, and relatively injury-free. Foley will see action if Massachusetts advances to the semifinal, where Yarworth expects to see St. Francis again.
If the Maroon and White can keep rolling, it’s likely to meet the Knights of Queens College. This would be an exciting contest, as UMass is looking to avenge the loss in the marathon battle earlier this season. If such a matchup were to go down, Yarworth has the battle plan ready. “We’ve got to take care of the ball, and play our game plan.”
The loss of Trayer is an obvious problem, however, and it will be a true test of this team, which will graduate seven seniors after this season.
“Hopefully, it will make us stronger,” Yarworth said. “And the other kids will step up.”
The Minutemen have a strong cast of characters that has proven it can step up when needed. Yarworth will look to some of the younger players to fill the void created by Trayer; players like junior Ricardo Puig, sophomore Tim Craycraft, and freshmen Adam Zobler and Nick Koenemann.
If Massachusetts can take care of Queens once and for all, it will be an important moral victory for a team that has been near perfect all season. And a trip to the Eastern Championships would be a great reward for lucky number 13 Massachusetts.
