WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Connecticut College men’s water polo team split its opening two games against a pair of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II opponents at Washington & Jefferson College as the Camels dropped an 18-13 decision to Mercyhurst University before rebounding to earn an 18-15 win over McKendree University.
Facing the Lakers, Mercyhurst scored the first three goals and led from start-to-finish in the contest. Sophomore Arturo Freitas (Weston, Fla.) closed the gap to 4-3 with a marker in the final minute of the opening quarter, but the Lakers scored quickly in the second and held off the Camels the rest of the way.
Sophomore Rahul Gill (Bethesda, Md.) paced Connecticut College with a team-leading four goals, while senior Dylan Pinckert (Long Beach, Calif.) added three markers.
Connecticut College picked up its first win of the season in comeback fashion versus McKendree as the Bearcats led by a 4-3 score after the first quarter. However, back-to-back markers by junior Jake Smith (Baltimore, Md.) and senior Stephan Cress (Rockford, Mich.) in the early stages of the second quarter gave the Camels a lead they would never relinquish.
Cress notched five goals to pace the offense and senior Jake Pescatore (New Haven, Conn.) added three more.
Release courtesy Connecticut College Athletics Communications
