(SALEM, WV., Oct. 26) – The McKendree University men's water polo team began competition in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division-II Championships today with games against Gannon University and the host, Salem University. The Bearcats opened the morning with a 17-14 defeat of Salem and closed out day one with a 21-18 loss to Gannon.
 
The Bearcats move 10-10 overall on the season. McKendree will finish the CWPA Division-II Championships tomorrow morning against Mercyhurst at 10:00am ET.
 
McKendree jumped out to a 3-0 lead after senior Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) scored twice and junior Ben Brauer (Duisburg, Germany/Steinbart-Gymnasium Duisburg) scored once. The Tigers answered back with two goals but the Bearcats carried a 3-2 lead into the second period.
 
The Bearcat offense stayed consistent in the second period with another three goals. Junior Andrew Serrano (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King High School) and sophomore Matthew Haygood (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) notched their first goals of the contest while Mahan recorded his third of the half.  Salem found the back of the cage five times to take a 7-6 lead into halftime.
 
The offense for the Bearcats found a groove in the second half, piling up 11 goals with five in the third period. Senior Izaya Owotor (Portland, OR/David Douglas High School) and junior Jesus Osorio (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon High School) scored the opening two goals the second half to push McKendree ahead. After Salem tied the game, sophomore Aaron Jacobs (Houston, TX/Jersey Village High School) and Haygood countered back to take the lead. Mahan scored the fifth goal of the period, and his fourth of the game to give the Bearcats an 11-10 lead heading into the final period of play.
 
A six goal fourth period proved to be the difference in the game. The Bearcats opened the final period on a 3-0 run with goals from Haygood, Osorio, and Owotor. McKendree and Salem would go on to trade goals for the rest of the period. Serrano scored his second goal, Mahan his fifth, and Haygood his fourth to seal a 17-14 victory over the host, Salem University.\
 
 
The nightcap against Gannon saw a shootout between the two teams, combining for 39 goals. Brauer led the way with seven goals in game. Mahan followed up with four goals and Haygood, Osorio each added in two goals apiece. Owotor recorded a single goal in the loss.
 
Osorio guided the offense with a game-high three assists. Sophomores Tony Sunagawa (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School), Nico Rodriguez (Bogota, Columbia/Oviedo High School), and Owotor each contributed two assists.
 
In the cage, junior Ori Scanlon (Orlando, FL/Olympia High School) and sophomore Bryce Tully (Yucaipa, CA/Yucaipa High School) shared time, playing two periods each.