(WASHINGTON, Penn., Sept. 23) – The McKendree University men's water polo team played three Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference – Western Region games on Saturday, winning one and falling in two.
 
GAME ONE: McKendree 7 – La Salle 12
McKendree's first game of the day came against La Salle University at 9 a.m. EST. The Bearcats fell 12-7 to the Explorers in the contest. Sophomore attacker Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) struck first for McKendree in the game, but La Salle scored twice in the quarter to hold a 2-1 lead. The teams traded goals in the second quarter, with sophomore attacker Daniel Peralta (Lakewood, CA/Lakewood High School) finding the back of the net for the Bearcats. The first half ended with a score of 3-2 in favor of the Explorers.
 
The third quarter held a ton of action for both teams, with each netting four goals. The teams traded goals back and forth until the close of the quarter. Goal scorers for McKendree include sophomore attacker Toby Stewart (Cincinnati, OH/Mason High School), sophomore attacker Michael Krause (St. Louis, MO/Saint Louis University High School), sophomore attacker Jarad Wahl (St. Louis, MO/Oakville High School), and Mahan. The final quarter the Bearcats had trouble solving the Explorers goaltender only scoring once on a shot from sophomore attacker Luc Gregory (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach High School). McKendree fell short of the victory, with La Salle scoring five in the final frame for a 12-7 win.
 
GAME TWO: McKendree 15 – Connecticut College 18
The second game for the Bearcats was against Connecticut College, which resulted in their second loss of the day by a final score of 18-15. The Bearcats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter with goals from sophomore attacker Izaya Owotor (Portland, OR/David Douglas High School) and Mahan. The Camels responded tied it up with two of their own to tie the game a two. The teams traded goals once more in the quarter with Mahan and Gregory scoring to give McKendree the 4-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Camels came out strong in the second quarter netting four straight goals before McKendree could answer. Mahan responded to bring the Bearcats back within two. Just 20 seconds later Krause found the back of the net to bring the Bearcats within one. Connecticut College scored again to make the score 8-6 in their favor. However, Owotor and Mahan each scored again to tie the game at eight in the last 40 seconds of the half. The Camels snuck in a buzzer beater to take a 9-8 lead into the half.
 
Connecticut College came out strong again in the third quarter, scoring three unanswered goals. McKendree's Gregory scored for the Bearcats with 5:30 left in the third quarter. The Camels responded with two more goals to take at 14-9 lead. Mahan scored to pull the Bearcats back within four, but the Camels had an answer. Gregory scored once more, to close out the third quarter with a score of 15-11 in favor of the Camels.
 
McKendree came out firing in the fourth quarter scoring three unanswered goals, with two from Mahan and one from Gregory to pull the Bearcats within one. Connecticut College responded to extend their lead back to two. Gregory scored again for the Bearcats but it wouldn't prove to be enough as the Camels score two more times to take an 18-15 victory.
 
GAME THREE: McKendree 18 - Washington & Jefferson 15
The Bearcats' third game of the day came against the host, Washington & Jefferson College at 7:30 p.m. McKendree took home their first victory of the day in the matchup, winning by a final score of 18-15. The Presidents jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Bearcats responded with three goals to hold a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. McKendree's goals came from sophomore center Jackson Smith (McHenry, IL/McHenry West High School), freshman defender Brandon Kavanaugh (Hawthorn Woods, IL/Mundelein Cons. High School), and Gregory.
 
McKendree extended their lead to two on a goal from Mahan, but Washington & Jefferson responded with two goals to even it up at four a side. The Bearcats answered with two goals of their own. The first coming from Smith, and the second from Mahan. The Presidents scored next to make the score 6-5, in favor of the Bearcats. McKendree continued to score in the quarter, adding four more goals before halftime. The Bearcats goals came from Mahan, freshman center Abraham Allen (Webster Groves, MO), Gregory, and Wahl. McKendree held a 10-7 lead heading into halftime.
 
The Bearcats outscored the Presidents in the third quarter by a score of 5-4, with goals coming from sophomore center Robert Esson (Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach High School), Stewart, Krause, with two from Mahan. The fourth quarter saw three goals from McKendree and four from Washington & Jefferson College. McKendree's goal scorers in the quarter include Smith, Wahl, and Esson. The Bearcats took home an 18-15


The men's water polo team hits the pool again Sunday morning starting at 10:30 a.m. EST with a contest against Gannon University. Following that game the Bearcats will take on a non-conference opponent in Penn State-Behrend at 2:15 p.m. EST.