THROGGS NECK, N.Y.  – The William Paterson men's swimming and diving team (4-0) erased a 46-28 deficit after four events and went on to upend SUNY Maritime (0-1),120-116, in the Privateers' season-opener Oct. 31, using three wins from Anthony Taboadela (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills)  and a decisive victory in the 200 free relay to stay undefeated on the season and repay a 2016 home loss to the Privateers.
 
WP had to face and overcome some adversity to pull off the comeback. In the second-to-last event of the competition, senior Sammuel Melendez (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) was disqualified for what was ruled an illegal dolphin kick, taking away nine potential points for William Paterson.

Trailing 110-109 going into the final event, the 200 free relay, WP secured 11 points behind the first-place finishing quartet of sophomore Eamon Logue (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Twp.), Melendez sophomore Jimmy Sharkey (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West), Melendez and junior Drew Macchia (Chatham, N.J./Chatham). The group touched in 1:32.41 to give WP the final advantage, with Macchia posting the fastest split (22.31).
 
Taboadela posted his fourth triple-winning performance, out-touching the competition in the 200 free (1:52.49), 100 fly (55.68) and 100 back (55.73) to earn 27 team points. WP's other multiple-event winner was sophomore Emmanuel Garcia (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood), registering event-high scores in the one-meter (170.45) and three-meter (159.25) dives.
 
Macchia also contributed as a single winner, giving WP the victory in the 100 free (50.61), just narrowly edging Logue who earned four points with a second-place finish (51.80). Macchia and Logue were neck-and-neck in the 50 free as well, with Macchia finishing in second (23.44) ahead of Logue who was in third (23.53), garnering seven points for WP in the event.

Melendez was the Pioneers' second single-event winner, finishing ahead of the competition in the 200 IM (2:06.45).
 
Freshman Bradley Belina (Paramus, N.J. /Paramus) earned what turned out to be two crucial points in the 500 free, rallying to finish fourth (5:41.16). WP's other distance performer, Sharkey, posted a pair of personal-best marks, finishing second in the 500 free (5:27.09) and 1,000 free (11:28.14).
 
The Pioneers will be off until they host Staten Island (0-1) Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 6:00 p.m, commencing a busy stretch of three meets in eight days. 
 
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