(O'FALLON, Ill., Sept 21) – The McKendree University water polo program honored its first four-year class on Saturday afternoon at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex with two games against Monmouth College.
 
The Bearcats move to 2-4 overall on the season while the Club team sits even at 3-3 overall.
 
Varsity
McKendree jumped ahead quickly, building a 4-0 lead before the visiting Fighting Scots could get on the board. Senior Joseph Mahan (Corinth, TX/John H Guyer High School) notched two goals in the period while senior Izaya Owotor (Portland, OR/David Douglas High School), junior Ben Brauer (Duisburg, Germany/Steinbart-Gymnasium Duisburg), and freshman Tristen Clue (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) added in the others. Monmouth scored two goals in the period but the Bearcats led 5-2 after the opening period.
 
The Bearcats exploded in the second period, scoring seven goals. Sophomore Matthew Haygood (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) caught fire, scoring three goals. Sophomores Aaron Jacobs (Houston, TX/Jersey Village High School), Josh Carlson (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln Way West), and Tony Sunagawa (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills High School) each scored their first of the game. Brauer notched his second of the contest. The Bearcat defense matched the offense, allowing just one goal to carry a 12-3 lead into halftime.
 
The offensive momentum carried into the third period, as McKendree added another six goals to its total. Brauer and Haygood each put two balls in the back of the cage to bring their scoring totals to four and five, respectively. Senior Michael Krause (St. Louis, MO/Saint Louis University High School) and Carlson chipped in the other two goals in the period. The Bearcat defense once again held the Fighting Scots at bay, allowing just two goals in the period.
 
Sophomore Nico Rodriguez (Bogota, Columbia/Oviedo High School) and Owotor each scored twice to further add to the lead. McKendree held Monmouth scoreless in the final period, securing a dominate 22-5 victory over the Fighting Scots.
 
Senior Marko Vucetic (Belgrade, Serbia/Redstar Academy) allowed just five goals while making eight saves and recording two steals in his effort.
 
The Bearcats will take a week off before heading west to California for a six game week.
 
Club
After Monmouth opened up the scoring, senior Andrew Ruelas (Riverside, CA/John W. North High School) answered back 15 seconds later to even the score. The Fighting Scots went ahead by two before sophomore Kyle Moore (Whittier, CA/La Habra High School) cut into the lead. Monmouth would add two more to take a 5-2 lead after the opening eight minutes.
 
The Bearcats were held scoreless in the second period, and Monmouth would carry a 9-2 lead into halftime.
 
The McKendree offense found a groove in the third period, scoring four goals to keep up with Monmouth. Moore and Ruelas both added in their second goals while senior Toby Stewart (Cincinnati, OH/Mason High School) and sophomore Owen Martin (Flower Mound, TX/Flower Mound High School) chipped in with the other two. Monmouth would net five goals in the period to match the Bearcat pace and carry a 14-6 lead into the final period.
 
Senior Jarad Wahl (St. Louis, MO/Oakville High School) recorded his first goal of the game to cut in an attempt to mount a comeback. Ruelas would score twice in the period to bring his scoring total to four while Moore would net his third. The Fighting Scots once again, matched the Bearcats with four goals to capture an 18-10 victory.
 
The Bearcats will be back at the pool next weekend, Sept. 28, opening with Washington University in St. Louis.