(MONMOUTH, Ill., Oct. 13) – The McKendree University men's water polo team closed out a Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) weekend with a 19-8 win over Mercyhurst University on Sunday morning. The Bearcats combined a high powered offense and shut down defense to roll past the Lakers.
The Bearcats advance to 6-9 overall on the season and 2-1 in MAWPC play.
McKendree locked down the Laker offense, allowing zero goals. The Bearcats sent six balls in the back of the cage to take a 6-0 lead after the first period. Senior
Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) scored three teams to lead the way. Juniors
Jesus Osorio (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon High School),
Adrian Maher (Keller, TX/Keller High School), and freshman
Matthew Haygood (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) netted the three other goals for the Bearcats.
The Lakers found some offense in the second period, scoring six times. McKendree was able to keep up, scoring four times. Junior
Abraham Allen (Webster Groves, MO/Webster Groves High School), sophomore
Aaron Jacobs (Houston, TX/Jersey Village High School), Maher, and Haygood scored for McKendree as they held a 10-6 lead heading into halftime.
Once again, the Bearcats held Mercyhurst scoreless in the third period. Haygood scored twice in the period to lead the way, bringing his game total to four. Maher, Mahan, and Clue each found the back of the net in the period. McKendree carried a 15-6 lead into the final period.
Junior
Andrew Serrano (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King High School) opened up the scoring in the fourth period, his first of the game. Senior
Michael Krause (St. Louis, MO/Saint Louis University High School) jumped in the scoring column with his first to further extend the lead. Jacobs added his second goal of the game before Mahan found the back of the cage for the fifth time to secure a 19-8 win over Mercyhurst.
In the cage, sophomore
Bryce Tully (Yucaipa, CA/Yucaipa High School) allowed zero goals in two periods of play.
McKendree will be back on the pool next weekend, Oct. 19-20 for the final MAWPC weekend before the CWPA Division II Championships.
