Maryland's Cardinal & Gold jumped to a three-goal advantage during the first period on goals by Brown, Warren, and Seipp to take a 3-0 lead. New Jersey's Kyle Maurer broke the drought for the Princeton club as he tallied his first of two on the day. However, the rest of the quarter was all Maryland as Roberts and Seipp each scored to push their lead to 5-2 at the half.

In the third period New Jersey chipped away at the margin on goals by Jeremy and Kyle Maurer and Lee Stiles. Maryland answered with two of their own as Roberts and Warren each tallied their second of the game.

Maryland was able to maintain their three-goal edge throughout the fourth as Roberts and Warren garnered their third goals, in spite of New Jersey's effort to close the gap as Jeremy Maurer scored a pair for Princeton.

In the end, the margin established early in the game was too much for Princeton toovercome, with Cardinal & Gold clinching the first National State Challenge title winning 9-6 and securing the $1,000 in award money. Maryland's David Roberts earned Player of the Game honors.

The National State Challenge was established to help grow the sport of water polo by providing an incentive for states to establish league structures. American Water Polo hopes to see the tournament expand to include many more states in the future, as well as various age levels and genders.

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