WHITTIER, Calif. — The Division III No. 5-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) water polo team looked to rally late against host/Division III No. 8 Whittier College. However, the Engineers could not erase an early deficit as the Poets held on for a 14-9 win.
The Engineers never led versus the Poets as junior Adam Ivatorov (Rockaway, N.Y.) tied the match at two-all with a powerplay goal with 2:27 left in the first quarter. Whittier went on a 3-0 run to pull ahead 5-2 at 3:52 in the second quarter on a powerplay goal from freshman Ivan Cubelic.
Junior Kush Khamesra (Portland, Ore.) converted a five-meter opportunity with 40 seconds left in the half to inch MIT within three at 7-4. Sophomore Matthew Pryce (Johannesburg, South Africa) made it a four-goal game with his score at 7:22 in the third quarter.
Following another goal by Cubelic 19 seconds into the third quarter to stake the Poets to an 8-4 margin, sophomore Matthew Pryce (Johannesburg, South Africa) made it a three-score contest at 8-5 with 7:22 on the clock.
After a penalty shot goal from freshman Zander Montoya gave Whittier back a four-goal spread a 9-5 lead with 6:59 left in the frame, Pryce converted a man-up opportunity to move the Engineers back to within three at 9-6 at the 6:42 mark.
The Poets scored twice to pull ahead 11-6 as Noah Bigara (4:36) and Evan Borunda (2:26) dented the twine, but goals from sophomore Kunal Rajadhyax (Vernon Hills. Ill.) (1:11) and Ivatorov (42 seconds, penalty shot) made it an 11-8 match heading into the final eight minutes of action.
A comeback was not in the cards for MIT, however, as Whittier registered a 3-1 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter to close out the 14-9 victory.
Ivatorov and Pryce recorded hat-tricks for the Engineers with three goals, while first year Joshua Woren (Aurora, Colo.) made six saves to take the loss.
Cubelic led Whitter with three goals while four others scored two.
Information courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Athletics Communications
