(CLAREMONT, Calif., Oct. 5) – The McKendree University men's water polo team dropped their first two games in the Gary Troyer Invite. The Bearcats fell to Chapman University in game one by the score of 14-8. In game two, they were defeated by Fresno Pacific University 19-8.
 
Game One
 McKendree got on the board first when freshman Ben Brauer (Duisburg, Germany/Steinbart-Gymnasium Duisburg) buried one past the Chapman goaltender. The Panthers took a 4-1 lead before junior Izaya Owotor (Portland, OR/David Douglas High School) netted a goal just before the end of the first period. Brauer would get his second a minute into the second period. Freshman Matt Haygood got his first of the game but the Bearcats would trail 9-4 at halftime.
 
Junior Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) added his first and Haygood would get his second but Chapman would extend their lead to 13-6 after the third period. Mahan and Haygood would each score another goal in the final period but McKendree would fall 14-8 in game one.
 
Game Two
The Bearcats got off to a slow start as the Sunbirds would take a 7-0 lead before Haygood netted his first of the game. McKendree would trail 11-1 at halftime.
 
Freshman Peter Germuska (Encinitas, CA/La Cost Canyon High School) would score two goals in the third period but Fresno Pacific still led 15-3 after the first period. Freshman Jackson Spencer (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) added his first of game and Brauer would contribute two more in the fourth. Haygood netted two more in the final period to bring his total to three. McKendree would fall 19-8 to Fresno Pacific University.
 
The Bearcats return to the pool on Saturday at 9:00a.m. PT and 2:20p.m. PT as they take on Occidental College and California Lutheran University.