2014 Men’s Basketball
Championship
Coming from Bryan, Texas, Liam Veazey knew his odds of playing Division I college water polo weren’t high. They do everything bigger in Texas, but high-level college water polo isn’t one of them. There isn’t a single DI program in the state, or any bordering state for that matter.
So Veazey, who admitted it is tough to get a look from college coaches, ventured to Brooklyn to play for the Terriers of St. Francis (N.Y.). It was not long ago that Veazey and his dad drove 1,600 miles plus for a campus visit, which has culminated into an impressive freshman season.
| WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP |
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Championship: USC 11, UCLA 10 Recap Highlights Photo Gallery Feature: Familiar foes set to settle title |
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Consolation: St. Francis (N.Y.) 14, Air Force 8 Recap Highlights Feature: St. Francis wraps up best season |
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Semis: USC 18, Air Force 7 Recap Highlights Feature: Heidmous rebuilds Air Force program |
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Semis: UCLA 17, St. Francis (N.Y.) 3 Recap Highlights Feature: St. Francis keeps improving |
| Interactive Bracket | Printable |
Veazey played in every game for the Terriers posting 18 goals and 25 steals. It was all capped with a third-place finish at the NCAA championship as St. Francis defeated Air Force 14-8. The match marked the Terriers first win at the NCAA tournament and the program’s highest finish.
“To think that I was able to play water polo in college and make it to the [championship] my freshman year,” Veazey said.”[We are] looking for it again next year and I just can’t wait to get back here.”
In the postgame press conference, Terrier Head Coach Igor Samardzija, who presides over a team filled with eight Eastern Europeans, was asked whether his team was more popular in New York now that they won a match.
“You’d be surprised how popular we are in Serbia,” Samardzija said to a round of laughter.
With one of the keys to the team’s future in Veazey, he might find the appeal for the Terriers is growing quite large in Texas too.
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