PROVIDENCE, RI. — The Division III No. 8-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) water polo team dropped matches to Division III No. 4 Chapman University, 14-7, and Division III No. 2 Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, 17-10, to conclude Brown University’s Bruno Invitational.
MIT jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead with two goals from Rick Lundh and another from Caspar Lightner against Chapman.
Avi Narula gave MIT a 4-1 lead, but Chapman went on an 8-0 run to take a 9-4 lead. Andras Beleznay stopped the Panthers’ run, however, another 3-0 run by Chapman increased its lead to 12-5 early in the fourth quarter.
Lundh found the back of the net at 5:39 but the Panthers got back-to-back goals to take a 14-6 lead. Kunal Rajadhyax wrapped up the scoring with a goal at 2:51.
Lundh notched a hat trick to lead the Engineers and bring his season total to 18 goals.
Facing Pomona-Pitzer, the Sagehens got on the board first but LIghtner responded to tie the match. Pomona-Pitzer ended the quarter on a 4-2 run to take a 5-3 lead into the second quarter. Lightner scored on the powerplay with 18 seconds left to cut the Engineers’ deficit to two goals.
The Sagehens continued to hold a lead in the second quarter, building an 8-4 margin before Rajadhyax scored with 1:53 left in the half.
A penalty shot goal by Lundh got MIT to within three with 4:27 left in the third quarter, but Pomona scored again to make it 10-6. Back-to-back goals from Lightner and Beleznay trimmed the margin to two goals with 1:11 left in the third quarter, but a 5-0 run by the Sagehens made the score 15-8.
Narula and William Ewald found the back of the net for MIT in the closing minutes as Pomona-Pitzer held on for a seven-goal victory.
Lightner notched a hat-trick for the Engineers to bring his season total to 31 goals. It’s his seventh match this season where he has scored at least three goals.
Lundh added two goals versus the Sagehens.
Information courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Athletics Communications
