CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — No. 18-ranked Harvard University defeated McKendree University, 23-7, and fell to No. 11 Pepperdine University, 16-11, at home in Blodgett Pool to close out the Crimson’s participation at the 2023 Bruno Classic hosted by Brown University, Harvard and Wheaton College.
Completing its season-opening weekend, the Crimson never trailed against the Bearcats and remained within two goals of the Waves before dropping the decision.
With the victory over McKendree, Ted Minnis, The Friends of Water Polo Head Coach, recorded his 250th career victory with the Crimson men’s team.
Sophomore James Rozolis-Hill scored 10 goals on the day, closing the weekend with 17 total goals. First-year Jack Burghardt netted six goals against McKendree to finish the weekend with 10 goals. Senior Kaleb Archer added seven goals over the four games, and first-year goalkeeper Oliver Price tallied 30 saves on the weekend.
Facing Pepperdine, Rozolis-Hill scored four goals as the Crimson suffered a 16-11 setback.
The Crimson remained within 7-5 at halftime before the Waves scored all four goals in the third quarter and each side netted five goals in the fourth frame.
Rozolis-Hill netted his third hat trick of the weekend in the loss to power the Harvard offense.
The Crimson totaled eight different goal scorers with seven student-athletes scoring one goal each versus the Waves, including senior Gabe Putnam; juniors Alex James, Tyler Zarcu and Mot Stothart; sophomore Mason Hunt; and first-years Burghardt and Vilas Sogaard-Srikrishnan.
James paced the Crimson with three assists. Stothart and first-year Jacob Tsotadze each dished out two assists.
Price made 11 saves, including a stop on a five-meter penalty shot as Harvard suffered its first setback of the season.
Harvard opened the game with a 2-1 lead behind goals from Putnam and Hunt before the Waves scored five of the frame’s final six goals to take a 6-3 edge at the end of eight minutes. Rozolis-Hill netted the Crimson’s other goal in the quarter.
The Crimson outscored Pepperdine, 2-1, in the second quarter with goals from James and Sogaard-Srikrishnan to pull within 7-5 at the break.
Pepperdine took the third quarter, 4-0, to move ahead 11-5 heading to the final frame.
The two teams combined for 10 goals in the fourth quarter with each side scoring five times. Rozolis-Hill netted three goals in the quarter while Zarcu and Burghardt each scored once. Zarcu’s tally came via a five-meter penalty shot.
Rozolis-Hill and Burghardt continued their offensive exploits against McKendree as each scored six goals.
The Crimson led 7-2 at the end of the first quarter, 13-4 at halftime and 18-6 through 24 minutes of action on their way to the victory over the Bearcats.
Rozolis-Hill scored six goals for his fourth hat-trick of the weekend,while Burghardt totaled six goals, two steals and two ejections drawn.
Archer posted two goals and drew three ejections and Sogaard-Srikrishnan notched two goals and an assist to accompany pairs of goals by Stothart and Zarcu.
Senior Owen Hale registered a goal, two assists and a team-high three steals. Senior Alexandru Bucur and first-year Cyrus Symington each scored one goal.
Hunt and Tsotadze each distributed a team-best three assists. Senior Cam Dougherty contributed a pair of helpers to also factor on offense for the Crimson.
Harvard opened the game with a 7-2 lead at the end of the first quarter behind two goals from Rozolis-Hill and one each from Bucur, Stothart, Hale, Zarcu and Archer.
Harvard extended its lead to 13-4 at halftime, taking the second quarter, 6-2. Rozolis-Hill (three goals), Burghardt (two goals), and Archer (one goal) provided the offense in the frame.
The hosts moved the advantage to 18-6 through three quarters, claiming the third stanza by a 5-2 count. Burghardt found the back of the cage twice in the frame, while Zarcu, Rozolis-Hill and Stothart each scored once.
The Crimson closed out the contest with a 5-1 fourth quarter, including two goals apiece from Burghardt and Sogaard-Srikrishnan and a tally from Symington.
Information courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
