(CLAREMONT, Calif., Oct. 6) – The McKendree University men's water polo team dropped two contests on Friday at the Gary Troyer Tournament. The Bearcats first took on CalBaptist at 2:15 p.m. PST, falling by a final score of 15-5. The Bearcats were defeated 17-13 in the second contest of the day, against Whittier College at 6:00 p.m. PST.

GAME ONE 
McKendree took on CalBaptist in its first game of the day. CalBaptist is currently ranked No. 15 in the CWPA Men's Varsity Top 20 Poll. The Bearcats were held off the board in the first quarter as CalBaptist was able to score three goals. McKendree found the back of the net in the second quarter on a shot by sophomore attacker Daniel Peralta (Lakewood, CA/Lakewood High School). At halftime McKendree trailed CalBaptist by a score of 8-1. The Bearcats were able to turn it around in the third quarter holding CalBaptist off the scoreboard, while adding two goals. McKendree's third quarter goals came from sophomore attacker Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) and freshman center Abraham Allen (Webster Groves, MO). The fourth quarter saw two more McKendree goals, with Mahan and sophomore attacker Luc Gregory (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach High School) finding the back of the net. McKendree ended up falling by a final score of 15-5 to CalBaptist. The Bearcats were backstopped by sophomore goalie Anthony Murat (Chicago, IL/Buffalo Grove High School) who made seven saves in the game.

GAME TWO 
The second game of the day for McKendree came against Whittier College at 6 p.m. PST at Axelrood Pool. Whittier is currently tied with two other teams at No. 1 in the CWPA Men's Varsity Division III Top 10 and received votes to be in the CWPA Men's Varsity Top 20. The Bearcats took an early lead in the contest when Gregory fired one past the Poet's goalie. Whittier answered, to even up the game but McKendree scored three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead. Sophomore attacker Michael Krause (St. Louis, MO/Saint Louis University High School) netted a goal, followed up a five-meter penalty shot goal by Mahan, and a man up goal from freshman utility player Sean Legg (Ottawa, Ontario). Whittier added another goal before the end on the quarter, but McKendree held a 4-2 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
The Bearcats added to their lead early in the second quarter, with Gregory and Mahan each finding the back of the cage. The teams went on to trade goals, each scoring four in the quarter. Mahan and Legg each added another before halftime. McKendree held an 8-6 lead heading into half time.
 
McKendree struggled in the third quarter, allowing six goals but unable to score any of their own. The Bearcats rebounded in the fourth quarter netting five, but the Poets were able to match McKendree's five markers. The Bearcats goals in the fourth quarter came from Mahan, Krause, Owotor, and Gregory with two. McKendree battled hard but was unable to take home the win, falling 17-13 to Whittier. Murat was in the cage for McKendree, making 11 saves in the matchup.
 
The Bearcats are back in the pool for two contests on Saturday at Haldeman Pool. The first game of the day comes against CalTech at 8 a.m. PST, followed up by a matchup against the host, Pomona-Pitzer at 2:15 p.m. PST.