CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Division III No. 6-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) men’s water polo team split a pair of games with a 9-4 defeat of Division III No. 10 Austin College and a 19-8 loss to No. 13 California Baptist University at Harvard University’s Blodgett Pool on the final day of the 2022 Brown University Bruno Classic. MIT concluded the day by falling via a 19-14 score to the United States Air Force Academy in the Engineers’ home-opener at Zesiger Pool.
In the day’s opener versus Cal Baptist, the Lancers jumped out to a 4-1 lead after one quarter of action. Junior Evan Kowal (South Pasadena, Calif.) got the Engineers on the board with 1:14 remaining, but Cal Baptist scored with three seconds remaining to take a three-goal lead into the second quarter.
The second quarter was more evenly matched with each team scoring three times in the eight-minute quarter. First-year Luke Apostolides (Greenwich, Conn.) and Kowal scored for the Engineers and a goal from first-year Adam Ivatorov (Rockaway, N.Y.) got MIT to within one goal at 5-4. The Lancers responded with two goals in the final 38 seconds, including one with four seconds remaining to take a 7-4 lead.
Cal Baptist put the game out of reach as they outscored the Engineers 8-1 in the third quarter.
Senior Miller Geschke (Los Altos, Calif.) opened the fourth quarter with a goal at 6:13 to halt a 4-0 Lancers run. Kowal added two more scores in the frame for the Engineers.
Kowal led the way with four goals, while Geschke tacked on a pair versus Cal Baptist.
Taking on Austin, the Engineers started fast in the first quarter by taking a 5-0 lead highlighted by two goals each from Kowal and Ivatorov.
MIT continued to take control of the game with two more goals in the second as Ivatorov scored his third of the contest and first-year Vik Neni (Laguna Beach, Calif.) got his inaugural score of the contest to make it a 7-0 lead.
Austin started a comeback in the third as they outscored the Engineers 3-1 to pull to within five. The Kangaroos cut it to four with a goal in the fourth quarter, but Geschke got his second goal of the match to give the Engineers their first win of the year.
Ivatorov scored four of the nine goals for MIT, while Kowal and Geschke each scored twice.
Junior Colin Weaver (Huntington Beach, Calif.) made 17 saves in goal and added three steals and an assist to conclude the team’s competition at the Bruno Classic.
During the evening, MIT opened its home slate against Air Force.
The Falcons doubled up the Engineers in the first half, taking a 6-3 advantage into the second quarter.
MIT found its groove offensively, outscoring the Falcons 6-4 to make it a one-score game heading into the half. Geschke and Apostolides each scored twice as Apostolides’ goal with 1:49 remaining made it a 10-9 contest.
Air Force pulled away in the third with six goals with two in the quarters’ final 42 seconds. Neni scored with one second left in the third to make it 16-12 heading into the last eight minutes of play.
The Engineers looked to make a fourth-quarter comeback, but the Falcons held off MIT to claim a five-goal win.
Ivatorov led the way with four goals, while Apostolides and Geschke each recorded a hat trick. Geschke also added three assists and Apostolides had six steals. Yun also added two scores and six steals in the contest.
Weaver made nine saves in goal and registered three assists and a steal.
Release courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Athletics Communications
