(SALEM, WV., Sept. 23) – The McKendree University men's water polo faced off against Connecticut College and Gannon University on Sunday in West Virginia. The Bearcats matched up against the Camels of Connecticut College in the first game and fell 10-8. In game two, McKendree fell to the Golden Knights of Gannon University 18-10.
 
Game 1
McKendree fell behind 3-0 after the first period. Freshman Ben Brauer (Duisburg, Germany/Steinbart-Gymnasium Duisburg) put the Bearcats on the board a minute into the second period. The Bearcats would tie the game at four with two goals from junior Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) and one goal from freshman Peter Germuska (Encinitas, CA/La Cost Canyon High School). The Camels would put one away seconds before halftime to take a 5-4 lead.
 
Freshman Aaron Jacobs (Houston, TX/Jersey Village High School) and Brauer would add goals in the third period but McKendree would trail 7-6 going into the fourth period. Brauer would add his third of the game on a five-meter penalty shot. Freshman Tony Sunagawa (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) would put away his first of the game but it wasn't enough as the Bearcats fell 10-8 to Connecticut College.
 
"Our performance against Connecticut College was poor. We struggled to find the back of net despite a significant number of opportunities to score and we furthered our issues when we allowed our emotions to get the best of us," said McKendree coach Colleen Lischwe. "Mental toughness will need be the focus of training in preparation for the next weekend of games."

Game 2
In game two, McKendree faced off against Gannon University. The Bearcats fell to Golden Knights by the score of 18-10.
 
"A significant improvement from game one to game two in our play and in our attitude. We were down two starters for the whole game, but the team was able to adjust and a lot of guys really stepped it up," said Lischwe. "Gannon is a solid squad and I look forward to playing them again at full strength."
 
The Bearcats will travel to Pennsylvania next weekend and face off against Penn State-Behrend, Salem University and Mt. San Antonio College.