Roger Williams University Men’s Polo Team Wins National Championship

BRISTOL, RI—The Roger Williams University men’s polo team, which just formed last year, played for the national championship Saturday. The final was against Southern Methodist University. The Hawks came away winners 14-13.

The match was shown live (on https://www.uspolo.org/video) from Santa Barbara, Calif., at 5 p.m. Saturday on RWU’s Bristol campus, at the Richard L. Bready Mount Hope Bay Sailing and Education Center.

Here's how the team advanced, according to the school's press release.

"In Thursday’s semifinal match, RWU (No. 2 seed) defeated Cornell University (wild card) 10-8, and SMU (No. 3 seed) upset the University of Virginia (No. 1 seed) 12-11 to advance to the finals of the United States Polo Association Intercollegiate National Championship Tournament. This will be the first time in the 95-year history of the tournament that RWU and SMU are in the Final, competing for the John R. Townsend Men's Intercollegiate Polo Trophy, inaugurated in 1922.

"In the semifinal victory, the Hawks were led by George Hempt (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), who scored five goals. Daymar Rosser (Philadelphia, Pa.) added three goals for RWU, while Pedro Cabrera (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) tallied two goals.

"Roger Williams never trailed in the match, jumping out to a 2-0 lead and going ahead 3-2 at the end of the first chukka. Cornell stayed within striking distance in the second period, but the Hawks would not give up the lead, taking a 5-4 advantage into the break. Both teams added two goals apiece in the third chukka, allowing RWU to maintain its one goal advantage. In the final frame, RWU outscored Cornell 3-2 to take the 10-8 win and make their way to the title match.