Pros vs. College Kids Brought Attention to New York Water Polo

Pros vs. College Kids Brought Attention to New York City Water Polo

Last night time, Asphalt Green performed host for the primary of two evenings of high-quality water polo. As hoped, it was an entertaining—if one-sided—extravaganza, as Pro Recco, the world’s most recognizable water polo membership, headlined a slate of matches between European skilled golf equipment and American faculty groups.

European Water Polo Royalty Set for Big Apple Appearance

In a fairly shut opening match, Recco, the Italian polo large, pulled away within the third quarter to beat UCLA, 16-11. In the nightcap, Ferencvaros of Hungary dominated Princeton from the outset, at one level scoring 5 straight targets and 10 of 11 over a 10-minute span to open an 11-4 halftime lead on their method to a 23-11 win.

Wednesday’s motion between American faculty groups and the 2 finest skilled groups on the earth was a prelude to tonight’s contest. Recco and Ferencvaros, which between them have received the final 5 Champions League titles, will play at 7:30pm.

More vital than outcomes was the festive environment. Asphalt Green by no means seemed higher for polo: from pristine Malmsten targets and the “wave breaking lines” pool setup to high-energy movies and music to Overnght’s assorted cameras streaming play, the venerable Upper East Side aquatics facility was a super backdrop to motion within the water.

New York IS magic for water polo

“We are in a moment where we want to take the big step and New York is magic— and [the] United States can teach everyone,” mentioned Maurizio Felugo, Pro Recco president and chief proponent of his membership’s journey to NYC.

“Obviously we want to win, and will do everything to win, but we will try to create a product more attractive and start from New York… it’s something amazing,” Felugo added.

His membership, which sports activities eleven Olympians, together with ten who competed within the 2024 Paris Games, began slowly towards UCLA, the nation’s top-ranked squad. The Bruins pulled inside 9-8 halfway via the third interval on account of a flurry of 5-meter penalties towards the Italians. A objective by Recco captain Francesco Di Fulvio gave his workforce a two-goal margin. They then outscored UCLA by 7 targets to three, ending comfortably forward.

Bruin Head Coach Adam Wright, who in 2005 performed for the US when the Americans confronted the Hungarian nationwide workforce at Asphalt Green, was happy together with his workforce’s alternative to play towards the world’s finest.

“I mean the guys, the biggest thing is they work so hard and when opportunities like this come up… what a unique opportunity,” mentioned Wright. “90% of our roster would never play those [Pro Recco] players.”

The 10% Wright refers to dealing with Recco gamers are Chase and Ryder Dodd, brothers who confronted lots of them final yr in Paris and conceivably will accomplish that once more on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The UCLA coach additionally praised taking part in polo within the nation’s media capital.

“To be able to do that here and more importantly back at Asphalt Green is so special,” he mentioned. “Being back in New York is really special.”

Princeton Head Coach Dustin Litvak was additionally effusive in regards to the venue in addition to competitors towards a prime opponent.

[I]t’s so vital, and I believe that is only the start,” Litvak mentioned. “There must be extra occasions like this. Everybody’s studying as we undergo this and we hold getting higher.

“We’re grateful to be here, but we didn’t want that to be our attitude coming in…. We wanted to compete, we wanted to get better, and you only get better by playing people better than you. And there’s no one better in the world right now than FTC.”

FTC, recognized traditionally as Ferencvaros, demonstrated their superiority as they put together for a Men’s Hungarian Cup match on September twelfth. They aggressively attacked their opponent, leading to breakaways and open seems towards Tiger goalie Kristóf Kovács, an All-American in 2024.

With seven Olympians, together with Dusan Mandic, a 3 time (2016, 2020, 2024) Gold medalist with Sebia, Ferencvaros represented an enormous problem for a Princeton squad that started practising three weeks in the past,

That the Tigers’ opponent performed onerous happy their coach.

“I was really happy that FTC didn’t take it easy on us,” Litvak mentioned. “They had been flying down the pool and going after us. At no level did I really feel like they had been like: ‘We’re going to drag again now.’

“That’s what we wanted. We don’t want any mercy. We want to play.”

Princeton and UCLA now transfer on to the Princeton Invitational, which begins tomorrow in New Jersey. For NYC polo followers, the premier match of this sequence will function two applications with no love misplaced between them.

“How is the way to create a good product?” Recco President Felugo requested rhetorically. Clearly, to offer thrilling competitors, which ideally would be the case tonight at Asphalt Green.

Michael Randazzo (the Man with a Hat) is a swimming & water polo fanatic in New York City. He’s the manager director of Inclusive Community Wellness, a Brooklyn-based NPO that gives well being and wellness alternatives to New Yorkers. When he’s not on a pool deck serving to kids and adults study to swim, Randazzo often writes about water polo, a sport he by no means performed and barely understands.