CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Wagner College men’s water polo team opened its 2026 campaign with six non-conference matchups at the Bruno Classic hosted by Brown University and Harvard University, concluding the tournament with a 1-5 record. The Seahawks earned a thrilling 14-13 victory over Division III No. 9-ranked the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), while dropping demanding opening-weekend games against No. 6 the University of California-Davis, 14-8, No. 13 California Baptist University, 21-8, No. 17 Harvard, 18-6, No. 20 Brown, 15-10, and Long Island University, 16-15 OT.
The Seahawks opened the weekend on Friday, August 28, at Brown’s Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center in Providence, R.I., with games versus Cal Baptist and UC-Davis.
In the opener, Cal Baptist came out strong from the opening sprint, taking advantage of early opportunities to build an 8-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Seahawks found their pace in the second quarter. Junior Kelly Murphy put Wagner on the board at the 4:29 mark, scoring off an assist from senior captain Patrick Ray. Ray kept the momentum going, setting up quick back-to-back goals for freshman Noah Garrison and junior captain Smith Connors on the very next possessions. However, CBU stayed in control, leading 13-3 entering halftime.
Wagner played its best water polo of the day in the third quarter, matching CBU goal-for-goal in a fast-paced frame. Murphy added two more goals to secure an opening-day hat trick. The Seahawks kept the pressure on, with junior Vince Varga and Connors both finding the back of the net. Ray assisted on three of the quarter’s four goals.
Garrison added one final goal for the Seahawks late in the fourth quarter to close things out.
Ray was a standout as a playmaker, finishing the day with seven assists, setting up seven of Wagner’s eight goals and tying for the team lead with two steals.
In the cage, junior captain Ian Conway recorded nine saves and a steal to anchor the defense.
In the late game versus UC-Davis, the Seahawks opened the contest trying to establish their offense against a highly efficient Aggies squad. UC-Davis jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but Ray connected in the final minute of the first quarter off an assist from junior Weston Swank to get Wagner on the scoreboard.
In the second quarter, the Aggies began to create separation. Ray and sophomore Aksel Gerhardstein both found the back of the net to keep the Green & White fighting, but UC-Davis’ offensive attack helped them enter halftime with an 8-3 advantage.
The third quarter featured Wagner’s strongest play of the evening, turning the tide with a 3-1 run. On defense, freshman Harry Colley, sophomore Nadav Carmon and sophomore Jacob Troy all scored to cut the deficit to 9-6 heading into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, Wagner continued to press offensively with Ray and Carmon scoring back-to-back six-on-five goals to draw within two at 10-8. However, UC-Davis responded with a late scoring surge, rattling off four unanswered goals to secure a 14-8 victory.
Sophomore Filip Petrovic had multiple key stops anchoring the Wagner defense, registering seven saves.
Wagner remained in Providence for action on Saturday, August 29, with contests versus the host Bears and Long Island.
Taking on Bown, the Seahawks opened the game with Ray and Connors each finding the back of the net in the first quarter. Despite early momentum, Brown matched Wagner’s pace, taking a 3-2 lead after eight minutes of play.
In the second quarter, the Bears began to create separation behind multiple goals. Carmon, Troy and junior Matan Friedenberg tried to keep the Green & White within reach, but Brown entered halftime ahead by a 7-5 count.
The third quarter featured back-and-forth exchanges between both sides, with Connors, sophomore Kelly Murphy and Friedenberg tallying markers. Brown maintained control, extending their edge to 12-8 heading into the final eight minutes of regulation.
In the fourth quarter, Wagner continued to fight with two other goals from Ray and Connors. However, Brown’s late scoring surge secured the 15-10 victory.
Petrovic had couple of key saves on the Wagner defense.
In the late game versus Long Island, the Seahawks opened the game facing an early 3-0 deficit in the first quarter, but quickly found their offensive rhythm. Sophomore Jonah Aguilera netted back-to-back goals to get Wagner on the board, while Carmon and Varga also found the back of the net to keep the game tight. Despite their response, LIU held onto a narrow 5-4 edge after eight minutes of play.
In the second quarter, the Sharks began to create separation behind a transition of scores and penalty shots. Friedenberg converted a penalty and Connors assisted to keep the Green & White within reach, but LIU’s offense helped them enter halftime with a 10-6 advantage.
The third quarter featured back-and-forth exchanges between both sides, with Connors tallying again and senior Gabe Johnson adding a goal for the Seahawks on a power play. LIU maintained control, carrying a 12-8 edge into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, Wagner continued with the offensive play creating comeback of a 5-1 run. Ray remained consistent, followed by two goals from Carmon and another penalty conversion from Friedenberg. Varga got the game equalizer with just 55 seconds remaining to force a 13-13 tie and send the match into overtime.
In the first extra period, Friedenberg netted his third penalty of the game and sophomore Kelly Murphy scored to give Wagner a brief lead, but LIU answered both to keep it tied 15-15. Ultimately, a power-play goal in the second overtime secured the 16-15 victory for the Sharks.
Conway made critical stops through regulation and both high-pressure overtime periods.
On Sunday, August 30, at Harvard’s Blodgett Pool in Cambridge, Mass., the Seahawks opened the game storming out to a 5-2 lead in the first quarter. Aguilera, Murphy, Varga, Troy and Colley all found the back of the net to establish early momentum for the Green & White.
In the second quarter, the Engineers began to cut into the deficit. MIT capitalized on their opportunities to outscore Wagner in the frame, but another pair of goals from Murphy and Colley ensured the Seahawks entered halftime clinging to a narrow 7-6 advantage.
The third quarter was tight, with back-and-forth exchanges between both sides. Senior Gabe Johnson scored early to extend Wagner’s lead, but MIT responded with back-to-back goals to tie the game at 8-8. The Seahawks managed to reclaim the edge in the final minute of the period behind a goal from Connors, taking a 9-8 lead into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, the intensity increased as the teams traded goals until the end. MIT continued to press, eventually capturing a 13-12 lead with just 1:48 remaining in regulation. Facing a late deficit, Wagner’s offense delivered with Carmon getting the equalizer at the 1:25 mark to tie the game at 13-13. With only 39 seconds left on the clock, Colley struck again, netting his game-high fourth goal to secure the 14-13 victory for the Seahawks.
In the weekend finale versus the host Crimson, Harvard came out with a strong offense in the opening frame, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after eight minutes of play while holding the Seahawks off the board.
In the second quarter, Harvard extended its advantage to 6-0 before Aguilera got Wagner on the board with a score at the 5:48 mark. Aguilera struck again late in the frame for his second goal of the match, but Harvard maintained the control, taking a 10-2 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw the Crimson continue to push their transition attack, building a 14-2 cushion. Varga registered Wagner’s third goal of the afternoon at the 6:31 mark, leaving the Green & White trailing 14-3 heading into the final frame.
Wagner continued to battle in the fourth quarter, putting together its most offensive period with three goals. Junior Matt Wedlock scored a goal at the 6:50 mark, followed by a tally from Carmon at 4:33 and Varga’s second goal of the game at 3:12. However, Harvard answered each score to close out the 18-6 decision.
Goalkeepers Conway and Petrovic shared time in net for Wagner, anchoring the defense against a strong Crimson offense.
Information courtesy Wagner College Athletics Communications
