By: Joe Cicchino - Sports Information Assistant

BRYN MAWR – It was not an ideal start to Easterns for Germantown Academy’s boys water polo team, but it is a welcomed result. The Patriots turned the ball over on each of their first two possessions, but righted the ship and won their first match against Landon School, 11-5.

The Patriots went into the game having some knowledge about Landon, having scrimmaged them at the beginning of the season. However, things have obviously changed for both teams since then.

“They were really good defensively,” Head Coach Mike Koziol said. “They were much better, they were better disciplined than last time. I thought they did a really nice job. It was closer than the score indicated.”

Once GA settled in, the game was not in doubt. After being tied at two early in the first quarter, the Patriots added goals to lead 4-2 after one frame. They outscored the Bears 7-3 the rest of the way, with two of Landon’s goals coming in the final minute and a half of the competition.

While the offense scored double digits, Koziol pointed to the defense as a key factor in the win.

“It all started with our team defense,” Koziol said. “We went in looking to dictate the flow and we did that from the opening swimoff to the last whistle. It was great to work in some younger guys and not let up at all. Pat O’Hara ’21 had a great game, he had two steals, Louie Porter ’21 was out there bullying kids. Some of these guys – it’s their third Easterns -- they know what they’re doing, they’ve been in these games, they know how to play for each other.”

The Patriots will be back in the pool tonight to take on Lawrenceville School at 5:00 p.m. GA defeated the Big Red, 19-13 on Oct. 17 at Lawrenceville. Koziol said that they are a tough team, but the previous exposure will help.

“We have a level of familiarity,” Koziol said. “For us to know the defense they run and who the shooters are, I feel cautiously optimistic.”

Koziol was right to feel optimistic as the Patriots defeated Lawrenceville, 17-13. The win allowed GA to advance to the semifinals on Nov. 4 where they would face off against The Hill School.

However, the result was not an ideal one for the Patriots. GA fell to Hill, 10-7.

“I think that we could’ve played better as a team,” Brian Bartle ’19 said. “We kind of left our goalie out to dry. We need to work on a better second half, but I’m proud of what everyone did. I feel like nobody gave up.”

At halftime, the Patriots led 6-5. Bartle had scored three of those goals, with Walker Butler ’20 adding two and Jack Lafond ’19 with one. In the second half, Hill pulled away.

They outscored the Patriots 5-1 the rest of the way, with Bartle getting the lone goal. After finishing second in the Inter-Ac League, the Patriots were looking to claim the Easterns crown. However, they will be trying for third place instead.

“I think this year – especially after coming in second in the Inter-Ac – this was sort of our last chance at really doing something,” Bartle said. “We wanted to get to the final, it would’ve been great to face Haverford at the end, but we’ll be playing Loyola.”

While it was not the game they wanted, GA took it. The Patriots defeated Loyola 9-7 to claim third place at Easterns for the second consecutive year. Justin Stokes ’19 and Butler were both named to the All-Tournament Team.

The only game remaining on the scheudle for GA is the annual GA-PC Day match. The Patriots defeated Penn Charter 15-5 earlier this year, and will be looking to do the same on Nov. 10.