(LA VERNE, Calif, Oct. 5) – The McKendree University men's water polo team closed out its six game trip in California against Caltech and California Lutheran as a part of the Gary Troyer Invite. The Bearcats cruised to a 18-8 win over Caltech before losing 15-13 to California Lutheran.
The Bearcats advance to 4-8 overall on the season. McKendree will return to the pool on Oct. 12 when they travel to Monmouth, Ill. to face Gannon and Monmouth.
A 12 goal second half proved to be the major difference in the 18-8 win over Caltech. In the opening period, the two teams each scored two goals. Senior
Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) and sophomore
Josh Carlson (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln Way West) netted the goals for the Bearcats.
McKendree found a groove in the second, adding four goals. Junior
Jesus Osorio (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon High School), sophomore
Matthew Haygood (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School), Mahan, and Carlson each scored for the Bearcats. The Beavers could only muster two goals as McKendree held a 6-4 lead at halftime.
The Bearcats clicked on all cylinders in the second half, scoring six goals in the third and fourth period. Sophomore
Aaron Jacobs (Houston, TX/Jersey Village High School) found the back of the cage twice in the third period. Seniors
Izaya Owotor (Portland, OR/David Douglas High School),
Michael Krause (St. Louis, MO/Saint Louis University High School), freshman
Tristen Clue (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School), and Mahan contributed the other four goals. Mahan's goal brought his scoring total to three.
Six different Bearcats scored the final period to put away Caltech. Mahan notched his fourth goal to score in every period. Jacobs added in another to bring his total to three in the second half. Owotor found the back of the cage again for his second goal of the game. Juniors
Pedro Osorio (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon High School),
Andrew Serrano (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King High School), and
Ben Brauer (Duisburg, Germany/Steinbart-Gymnasium Duisburg) netted the other three goals for McKendree.
Junior goalie
Ori Scanlon (Orlando, FL/Olympia High School) made six saves and added two steals in the win.
The McKendree defense played a big part, allowing just four goals in each half to take an 18-8 victory over the Beavers of Caltech.
The Bearcats found themselves on the losing end of a back and forth game against California Lutheran. Brauer, Serrano and Clue were able to score goals for McKendree in the first period but the Kingsmen were up 4-3.
Both teams maintained the same offensive pace, but California Lutheran would take a 7-5 lead into the locker room. Sophomore
Tony Sunagawa (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) and Owotor added goals in the second period.
The two teams both score eight goals in the second half. Haygood jumped in the scoring column with two goals in the third period. Brauer scored the first of his three goals in the period. The Kingsmen took a 10-8 lead in the final eight minutes of play.
The offense for both sides found a rhythm as the Bearcats and Kingsmen found the back of the cage five times. Five different Bearcats scored for McKendree. Brauer, Mahan, J. Osorio, Krause, and junior
Abraham Allen (Webster Groves, MO/Webster Groves High School) netted goals. McKendree's defense couldn't slow down California Lutheran as the Kingsmen went on to win 15-13.
