(O'FALLON, Ill., Sept. 10) – The McKendree University men's water polo varsity and club team hosted its first home contest of the season on Tuesday. Both Bearcat teams came out on top with Varsity taking an 11-8 victory while Club secured a 9-6 win over the visiting Lions.
 
The Varsity squad captures their first win of the season, moving to 1-4.
 
The Club team opens the early season 1-0.
 
Varsity
McKendree and Lindenwood traded goals in the first period but the Bearcats would carry a 3-2 lead after the opening period. Freshman Nico Rodriguez (Bogota, Columbia/Oviedo High School), junior Ben Brauer (Duisburg, Germany/Steinbart-Gymnasium Duisburg), and senior Izaya Owotor (Portland, OR/David Douglas High School) each added in a goal.
 
The defense for the Bearcats held strong as they only allowed single goal but the offense was unable to find the back of the cage. The game would be even at three at halftime.
 
The Bearcat offense came together after halftime with five goals in the third period. Sophomore Matthew Haygood (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) and junior Jesus Osorio (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon High School) pushed McKendree ahead two quickly into the second half. Lindenwood stormed back quickly with two goals of their own to tie the game at five.
 
The Lions would take a quickly take back the lead after freshman Tristen Clue (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) pushed the Bearcats ahead. Junior Adrian Maher (Keller, TX/Keller High School) and senior Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) countered to put McKendree up 8-7 heading into the final eight minutes.
 
McKendree managed some insurance goals as Mahan scored two consecutive to add to the lead. Rodriguez would seal the victory with a goal just before the final minute to give the Bearcats an 11-8 victory over the Lions.
 
Junior goalie Ori Scanlon (Orlando, FL/Olympia High School) recorded 12 saves and one steal in the contest.
 
Club
Senior Jackson Smith (McHenry, IL/McHenry West High School) jumped on the score sheet early, notching the first goal of the game before a minute had come off the clock. After the Lions evened the score, sophomore Owen Martin (Flower Mound, TX/Flower Mound High School) put the Bearcats back up off an assist from fellow sophomore Kyle Moore (Whittier, CA/La Habra High School). Lindenwood would answer back with two goals and carried a 3-2 lead after the opening eight minutes.
 
After back and forth play in the second period, senior Jarad Wahl (St. Louis, MO/Oakville High School) captured the only goal of the period for either side as the score would knotted at three heading into the locker room.
 
McKendree came out hot with three goals in the second period. Smith notched his second tally of the contest and sophomore Kyle Moore (Whittier, CA/La Habra High School) scored consecutive goals to add to the lead. Senior goalie Anthony Murat (Chicago, IL/Buffalo Grove High School) once again turned away all Lion attempts as the Bearcat defense held Lindenwood scoreless in the third period.
 
The Bearcats stayed consistent on offense with three more goals in the final period. Moore recorded his third goal in a row, and in the game. Freshman Connor Pulido (Chicago Ridge, IL/Harold L Richards High School) buried his first goal of his collegiate career and Martin notched his second. The Lions would add three goals in the period, but it would not be enough as McKendree held on for a 9-6 victory.
 
Senior goalie Anthony Murat (Chicago, IL/Buffalo Grove High School) tallied six saves and two steals in the victory.
 
The Varsity team will take a weekend break from the pool before returning at home to host Monmouth College on Sept. 21 in the last home game of the season.
 
The Club team will head to St. Peters, Mo. to play four games, beginning with the University of Missouri on Saturday, Sept. 14.