MONMOUTH, Ill. — The McKendree University men’s water polo team closed out a Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)-West Region weekend with a 19-8 win over Mercyhurst University at Monmouth College. The Bearcats combined a high powered offense and shut down defense to roll past the Lakers.
The Bearcats advance to 6-9 overall on the season and 2-1 in MAWPC-West play.
McKendree locked down the Laker offense, allowing zero goals. The Bearcats sent six balls in the back of the cage to take a 6-0 lead after the first quarter. Senior Joseph Mahan (Corinth, Texas/John H Guyer) scored three teams to lead the way. Juniors Jesus Osorio (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon), Adrian Maher (Keller, Texas/Keller) and freshman Matthew Haygood (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) netted the three other goals for the Bearcats.
The Lakers found some offense in the second quarter, scoring six times. McKendree was able to keep up, scoring four times. Junior Abraham Allen (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves), sophomore Aaron Jacobs (Houston, Texas/Jersey Village), Maher and Haygood scored for McKendree as they held a 10-6 lead heading into halftime.
Once again, the Bearcats held Mercyhurst scoreless in the third quarter. Haygood scored twice in the frame to lead the way, bringing his game total to four. Maher, Mahan and Clue each found the back of the net in the quarter. McKendree carried a 15-6 lead into the final eight minutes of regulation.
Junior Andrew Serrano (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) opened up the scoring in the fourth quarter, his first of the game. Senior Michael Krause (St. Louis, Mo./Saint Louis University) jumped in the scoring column with his first to further extend the lead. Jacobs added his second goal of the game before Mahan found the back of the cage for the fifth time to secure a 19-8 win over Mercyhurst.
In the cage, sophomore Bryce Tully (Yucaipa, Calif./Yucaipa High School) allowed zero goals in two quarters of play.
Release courtesy McKendree University Athletics Communications
