The six teams were initially placed in two separate groups. Amherst was placed with the hosts of the tournament, The College of the Holy Cross, and Asphalt Green, a club team made up of former collegiate water polo players based in New York City's East Side.
Amherst had no trouble coming out on top of their assigned group as they whipped both Holy Cross and Asphalt Green by scores of 15-4 and 13-5, respectively. Freshmen Tom Gonnella and Dan Savage and sophomore Colin Porter played particularly well in these two contests.
Following their 2-0 preliminary performance, the Jeffs moved on to the semifinals where they faced off against the Jumbos of Tufts University. Amherst entered this match with a score to settle, as the Jumbos defeated their NESCAC rivals in the New England Championship tournament in the fall.
This time, however, it would be Amherst on the winning end, as the Jeffs went on a late run to break the game open and seal the 11-5 victory.
In the championship game Amherst took on Asphalt Green for the second time in two days. Asphalt Green played its way into the finals by besting Holy Cross and Tufts.
While the Jeffs handled their New York City opposition with ease earlier in the weekend, Asphalt Green put up more forceful resistance this time around.
Amherst led by just a point at the half, but the team's co-captains, juniors Dan Morash and Mike Pohorylo, came out inspired in the final half of play. Morash and Pohorylo scored two goals apiece during this time, leading the Jeffs to a 10-7 championship victory.
"Our younger players have really matured as water polo players," said Pohorylo. "For example Tom Gonnella scored the game-winning goal in the Championship game."
The next assignment for the water polo is to win the Little III Tournament hosted by Wesleyan University on April 25. at Wesleyan. The team beat Wesleyan in the fall and lost a close match to Williams. "After our performance in this tournament we are confident that we can beat Williams," said Pohorylo.