PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Division III No. 9-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) water polo team dropped a 16-8 decision to Concordia University-Irvine and overcame Connecticut College, 18-13, during the final day of the 2026 Bruno Invitational hosted by Brown University.
In the early game against Concordia, Andras Beleznay gave MIT a 1-0 lead before the Golden Eagles scored three-straight to take the lead. Derek Schaffer stopped the CUI run as the first stanza ended with the score 3-2.
Two goals to open the second extended the Golden Eagles’ lead to 5-2, but a six-on-five tally by Beleznay followed by a counter goal from Kunal Rajadhyax got the Engineers to within one at 5-4 with 4:18 left in the second quarter. Caleb Luby scored at 2:10 to give the Golden Eagles a two-goal advantage heading into the half.
A six-on-five goal from Beleznay cut the CUI lead to one, but a 5-0 run to end the third quarter widened the gap to 11-5 heading into the fourth quarter.
Jake Schweizer broke up a six-goal run at 5:40 to make it a six-goal match. CUI then went on a four-score rally to pull ahead 16-6. Rajadhyax and Schweizer scored the final two MIT goals of the match.
Beleznay finished with a hat trick to lead MIT against Concordia.
In a clash with Connecticut, MIT opened the games with goals from Luca Morocco and Kieran Kearns before the Camels responded with two goals of their own to tie the game. MIT sandwiched two goals between a Conn score to end the first quarter with a 4-3 lead.
A 5-0 spurt, with two more goals from Beleznay, to open the second quarter increased the Engineers’ lead to 9-3. The Camels netted two of the next three tallies to cut MIT’s advantage to five, but William Ewald found the back of the net with 13 seconds left to send the teams into the break with the Engineers holding an 11-5 lead.
MIT continued to build on its lead in the third quarter by outscoring Connecticut by a 5-3 count to take an eight goal lead into the final eight minutes of regulation.
The Camels cut into the MIT lead in the final stanza by posting a 5-2 advantage on the scoresheet but the Engineers held on for an 18-13 victory.
Nine Engineers found the back of the net led by hat-tricks from Ewald, Kearns and Beleznay.
Jackson Kay, Schweizer and Armeet Gill each notched two goals, while Charlie Baker, Rajadhyax and David Ranaudo stuffed in solo strikes.
Information courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Athletics Communications
