(SALEM, WV., Oct. 27) – The McKendree University men's water polo team finished competition in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division-II Championship against Mercyhurst University on Sunday morning. The Bearcats fell 16-14 to the Lakers to take third place.
 
At the conclusion of the Tournament, senior Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) and junior Chava Osorio (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon High School) were named to the All-Tournament team.
 
Sophomore Matthew Haygood (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) wasted no time, netting two goals in the first minute of the opening period. The Lakers countered back with three goals of their own to take the lead. Juniors Chava Osorio (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon High School), Pedro Osorio (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon High School), and Ben Brauer (Duisburg, Germany/Steinbart-Gymnasium Duisburg) each scored once in the period and the game would be tied 5-5 at the end of the first period.
 
The Bearcats couldn't get the offense going in the second period, recording just one goal. Sophomore Nico Rodriguez (Bogota, Columbia/Oviedo High School) netted the lone goal for McKendree. Mercyhurst scored four times to take a 9-6 lead into halftime.
 
Both times found the back of the cage four times in the third period. Haygood scored twice in the period for his third and fourth goals of the game. Brauer netted his third and sophomore Aaron Jacobs (Houston, TX/Jersey Village High School) recorded his first of the contest. The Bearcats trailed 13-10 heading into the final period.
 
The Bearcats outscored the Lakers in the fourth period, eventually falling short. Brauer found the cage for his fourth goal. P. Osorio added in two more goals to bring his total to three and C. Osorio contributed his second of the game. McKendree would fall just short 16-14 to Mercyhurst.
 
McKendree will take a weekend off before heading back east for the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) West Region Championships.