(PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept.  3) – The McKendree University men's water polo team struggled to find success this weekend, falling in all four contests at the Bruno Classic.
 
GAME ONE
The Bearcats opened the weekend on Saturday against the host, No. 15 Brown University, falling by a score of 13-5. Brown took an early lead in the contest, but McKendree was quick to strike back. Sophomore attacker Izaya Owotor (Portland, OR/David Douglas High School) fired one past the Bears goaltender to even up the score at one. Brown kept the pressure up by netting five more to take a 6-1 lead into the second quarter. The Bears struck first in the second quarter, but Owotor had another response for his second goal of the contest. Brown went on to score once more before the half to take an 8-2 lead. The Bears opened the third quarter with two goals before McKendree could answer, but sophomore attacker Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) netted his first of the game to close out the quarter with a score of 10-3. McKendree opened the fourth quarter with two goals. The first goal came from freshman utility player Sean Legg (Ottawa, Ontario), the first of his collegiate career. Mahan netted his second of the game for the Bearcats fifth goal, to make the score 10-5. The Bears went on to score three more times and eventually take home the 13-5 victory over the Bearcats. Owotor notched two goals and seven steals in the game. Sophomore goalies Anthony Murat (Chicago, IL/Buffalo Grove High School) and Marko Vucetic (Belgrade, Serbia/Redstar Academy) each spent time guarding the cage registering 13 saves between the two.
 
GAME TWO
McKendree's second game of the tournament also came on Saturday, against No. 16 CalBaptist. The Bearcats would play hard but eventually fall by a score of 26-2. Mahan notched both tallies in the third quarter, but that would not be enough to overcome the strong CalBaptist squad.
 
GAME THREE
The Bearcats played their third game of the Bruno Classic on Sunday morning, against No. 10 Harvard University. McKendree battled but fell to Harvard by a final score of 19-5. The Bearcats struggled to beat Harvard's goaltender in the first quarter, but sophomore attacker Daniel Peralta (Lakewood, CA/Lakewood High School) was able to break through just two minutes into the second quarter. Heading into halftime McKendree trailed 12-1. The Bearcats were able to score once again in the third quarter, with a marker from the arm of sophomore attacker Luc Gregory (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach High School). McKendree added three more in the final quarter with one tally coming from Owotor and two coming from freshman center Abraham Allen (Webster Groves, MO). The Bearcats were defeated 19-5 in the matchup.
 
GAME FOUR
McKendree's final game of the tournament came against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  MIT received several Top Five votes for the Northeast Water Polo Conference just behind Harvard and Brown. The Bearcats gave a valiant effort in the contest, but ultimately fell short by a final score of 17-9. Mahan led the way for McKendree in the game notching six goals, with two multi-goal quarters. Gregory and Peralta each added a marker of their own, along with a goal from freshman defender Brandon Kavanaugh (Hawthorn Woods, IL/Mundelein Cons. High School). Kavanaugh's goal marks the first of his collegiate career.
 
The Bearcats are back in action for their first home game at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex on September 16^th at 1 pm.