CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - No. 13 Harvard men's water polo junior Gabe Putnam has earned NWPC Player of the Week while sophomore Owen Hale received NWPC Rookie of the Week, and junior goalie Nathan Wu took home NWPC Defensive Player of the Week, the Northeast Water Polo Conference announced today, Oct. 20. This is the first time this season that Harvard has swept the weekly NWPC awards, after a 4-0 showing this past weekend.

A native of Clovis, California, Putnam totaled 10 goals, three steals, and three assists across three games this past weekend. Putnam netted hat tricks against Gannon and Wagner on Saturday, Oct. 16 to begin the Harvard Invitational, including a three goal, three assist, three block game against Wagner. The junior went on to lead the Crimson with four goals against Salem on Sunday morning as the center defender enjoyed his best goal-scoring stretch of the season.
 
Hale tallied eight goals, six assists, and six steals while playing in all four games at the Invite. A native of El Segundo, Calif., Hale registered a goal in every game including a hat trick in the opening game win over Gannon. The sophomore recorded multiple assists in the final three games including a two goal, two assist, four steal performance against Mt. Saint Mary's.
 
A native of San Diego, Calif., Wu compiled a .533 SV% while winning both of his starts against Gannon and Mt. Saint Mary's. Wu stopped seven of twelve shots while registering a steal against Gannon before a nine-save effort to defeat the Mountaineers. Harvard is now 5-0 in games started by the junior, averaging 8 goals against in the contests.

Harvard (17-2, 4-1 NWPC) heads west to Santa Clara, Calif. to compete in the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament. Harvard begins its tournament on Friday, Oct. 22 matching up with Fresno Pacific at 5:00 p.m. EST. The Crimson will play two on Saturday, Oct. 23, taking on No. 18 California Baptist at 11:30 a.m. EST and host Santa Clara University at 7:30 p.m. EST. Harvard concludes the tournament on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 11:00 a.m. EST, matching up with No. 6 University of California Santa Barbara.