This reporter will be the first to admit that way back in September, he knew essentially nothing of the sport of Water Polo, more specifically, of the team that Massachusetts fields in Division I play.

That has all changed now.

The men’s water polo team finished the season only a few more goals, and maybe a few less raindrops, from the National Collegiate Athletic Association national championship. UMass entered the Final Four as the underdog, the only team that didn’t add a “CA” to the end of its home address. The Minutemen played the same solid game it has used all year to beat up on eastern teams, but all was for naught, as eventual champion Stanford first knocked them out of contention for the championship in a heavy rainstorm, and then Loyola-Marymount finished off the job on the visiting Maroon and White in an uncharacteristic wide-margin win.

“I didn’t really notice the rain,” Trayer said. “We played Stanford really tough, but we don’t play that level of Water Polo all year. No offense to the teams we play, but we never saw that level of play until the tournament.”

The Minutemen were scheduled to venture out to California to play California State at Long Beach, as well as the Loyola Invitational, but the trip was cancelled after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“I wish we could have had a better showing [at the NCAAs],” senior Mike Foley said. “I thought we had the team to do it this year, but we played well, and I can’t complain about that.”

The Final Four represented the culmination of a very successful year for the Minutemen, who notched 20 wins compared to only three losses during the regular season, and an impressive 9-1 record against teams from the Collegiate Water Polo Association. This led to tournament play for the Minutemen, who went on to win both the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament, as well as the Eastern crown.

The titles sandwiched a sub par showing for the Maroon and White at the Northern CWPA tournament, where injuries handicapped the team. However, as senior Greg Trayer said, “Easterns are the goal for us all year.” The Minutemen won the Eastern crown by battling out from the No. 8 position to beat a Queens College team that had been a challenge all year.

The Minutemen had previously lost to Queens in an epic double overtime battle, which the Knights took 6-5. The winning tally came in dramatic fashion, as Queens received a fortunate bounce off of the crossbar back to another Knight shooter, who put the goal home. After the game, head coach Russ Yarworth “stressed team defense” and reminded the squad to focus on the next match. From there on, the defense was the highlight of the season. Even through a mild scoring drought just before tourney time, the defense was solid.

Not that it needed to be. J.R. VanderWall was spectacular in net throughout the regular season, with a solid 4.70 Goals Allowed Average, as well as a spectacular .652 Save Percentage. The senior can certainly be credited with keeping his squad in more than a couple of games this season.

As for the offense, the scoring was normally abundant on a team from which Yarworth said, “you can’t pick out a star.” The scoring leader was senior Carlos Ramos with 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists). Foley (37 Goals, 9 assists) and Trayer (35 goals, 13 assists) each put up 48 points during the regular season.

For his stellar season, Trayer earned quite a few honors, including CWPA player of the week twice, as well as first team honors for the CWPA All-Conference team. “It was a great honor, but that’s due to a great team,” said Trayer, who intends to pursue an occupation rather than water polo once he graduates.

Foley also earned CWPA Player of the Week honors twice, as well as being named to the NCAA All-Tournament team with fellow senior Adam Moore. As for his future plans, Foley said “I’m glad polo is over, but if I get accepted to a law school out west, who knows? I may pursue the National Team. It’s up in the air right now.”

“I’m happy to have played with this team,” Foley said. “It was just a great group of guys who came together at the right time.”

Now it will be up to the kids. Seven seniors will graduate this year, leaving a big hole that Yarworth has been trying to fill with next year’s recruiting class for some time. Juniors Chad Arnold, Ricardo Puig, and sophomores Dave Liebert and Tim Craycraft will all see extended time in the pool next year, and will be expected to lead the Maroon and White.

For now, though, the team is basking in the glow of a season to remember.

Said Foley, “It’s been a good time, and I have no regrets about playing here.”

“We walked out with our heads held high,” Trayer said.