(O'FALLON, Ill., Oct. 14) – The McKendree University men's water polo team wrapped up the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division II Championships on Sunday afternoon. Despite a strong comeback against Salem University, the Bearcats were bested by the score of 15-13 to finish in third place.
 
The Bearcats got off to a hot start as freshman Ben Brauer (Duisburg, Germany/Steinbart-Gymnasium Duisburg) put back to back balls in the back of the cage. McKendree would take a 3-1 lead after the opening period as freshman Tony Sunagawa (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) contributed his first. Salem would take an 8-4 lead into halftime as freshman Nico Rodriguez (Winter Park, FL/Oviedo High School) would net the lone goal for the Bearcats.
 
Freshman Aaron Jacobs (Houston, TX/Jersey Village High School) and Matthew Haygood (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) would add two goals in the third period but McKendree would trail 13-6 heading into the final eight minutes. In fourth period, the Bearcats would rattle off seven unanswered goals to bring the Salem lead down to one. Junior Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) led the charge as he buried four goals in the period. Haygood would add two more and Brauer would add one to bring their scoring totals to three. Despite the strong fight, the Bearcats were defeated by Salem 15-13.
 
The Bearcats will return to the water Saturday, October 27 as they host Washington and Jefferson College at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.