NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y./PRINCETON, N.J. — In its first Northeast Water Polo Conference games of the season, the Division III No. 7-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) water polo team picked up an 8-7 win over Iona College and fell to No. 12 Princeton University by a 14-7 final.
Facing Princeton, the Tigers scored the game’s opening goal just 28-seconds into the match and took an eventual 4-2 lead through one. Over the opening eight minutes, MIT received goals via Miller Geschke (Los Altos, Calif.) and Kevin Downey (Greenwich, Conn.).
In the second quarter, MIT took its first and only lead of the game after Ward Weldon (Honolulu, Hawaii) gave the Engineers a 5-4 edge.
Princeton went on an 8-0 which stretched midway through the fourth quarter. The Engineers got a pair of goals from Geschke in the fourth, but ultimately fell, 14-7.
Geschke led the way with three goals in the opening match which also went along with two assists and one steal. John Steele (Old Greenwich, Conn.) registered three steals in the effort, while Weldon added a pair of goals for the Engineers.
In net, MIT keeper Hayden Niederreiter (Visalia, Calif.) made four saves over 34 minutes for the Engineers.
MIT and Princeton both took 31 shots in the opening match today. MIT also went three-for-10 on the man advantage, while Princeton went five-for-12.
In the nightcap at Iona, the Gaels jumped out to a 4-1 lead 8:56 into the nightcap. However, MIT climbed back in to tie the match at 4-4 by halftime. Two goals from Geschke and one via Clyde Huibregtse (New York, N.Y.) were the difference for MIT over the stretch.
Weldon scored back-to-back goals to open the third and MIT never looked back. The Engineers grew their lead to four (8-4), but the Gaels were able to cut the deficit to just one by the time the final horn rang.
MIT held a slim 32-30 advantage in shots and went 2-for-10 on the man advantage.
Miguel Lamar (Miami, Fla.) made eight saves over the opening half for MIT before Niederreiter stopped the ball nine times in the second half.
Release courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology
