BROOKLYN, N.Y./PRINCETON, N.J. — The Division III No. 10-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIIT) water polo team opened Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) action with a pair of road games as the Engineers rallied past host Long Island University, 11-9, before taking a 20-14 setback at No. 9 Princeton University.
Competing at LIU in the morning, MIT fell behind early as the Sharks took a quick 2-0 lead in the first quarter, but Kunal Rajadhyax converted a the penalty shot to send MIT into the second trailing by one.
Jake Schweizer scored a six-on-five goal while Jackson Kay hit on a penalty shot to put MIT in front with 5:35 on the clock in the second. LIU quickly responded with a penalty shot and a man-up score to regain a one-goal advantage. Schweizer set up William Ewald for the tying goal with 2:36 left in the second quarter.
After two goals put LIU back in the lead, Schweizer and Rajadhyax scored to send the teams tied heading into the final eight minutes of regulation.
A penalty shot goal from Daniel Goldgisser put LIU ahead by one at 10-9, but Schweizer tied the match at 3:17 and Rajadhyax notched the go-ahead goal at 2:19 on a man-up bid. He added an insurance goal at 1:41 to secure the win.
Rajadhyax scored a career-high five goals, while Schweizer notched his second hat-trick of the season. Ewald scored twice.
Schweizer also collected pairs of assists, steals and earned exclusions. Andras Beleznay led the way with seven earned exclusions.
Armaan Gill finished with 16 saves and a steal.
Facing the defending NWPC Champion Tigers in the Garden State, MIT fell behind early as Princeton raced out to a 4-0 lead and eventually built a 6-2 margin by the conclusion of the first quarter. Beleznay and Derek Schaffer accounted for MIT’s goals in the opening eight minutes of action.
The Engineers got two straight goals from Kieran Kearns and Ewald to pull within 7-4, but Princeton went on its own two goal spurt to pull ahead by five at 9-4. Beleznay and Ewald found the back of the net to get the Engineers within three before the Tigers closed the half on a 2-0 run to take an 11-6 lead into the break.
Princeton continued to build its lead in the third quarter to claim a 14-8 scoreboard advantage going into the final frame. Ewald and Beleznay scored for MIT in the third quarter.
Armeet Gill, Luca Morocco, Kearns and Victor Perez tossed in scores for MIT during the fourth quarter. However, Princeton kept pace with the Engineers as both teams scored six times over the concluding eight minutes to allow the Tigers to capture a 20-14 victory.
Beleznay scored four goals with Ewald earning his second hat-trick of the season in the loss. David Ranaudo and Schaffer each had two assists.
Information courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Athletics Communications
