CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Division III No. 9-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) water polo team opened the 2026 season at Harvard University’s Blodgett Pool with losses to the United States Air Force Academy, 17-14, and No. 13 California Baptist University, 21-7, during the Bruno Classic.
In the Engineers’ season-opener, Air Force jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead. Jake Schweizer netted his first collegiate goal at 5:49 to tie the match. Following a Falcons’ strike, Derek Schaffer tied the match at two-all and a score from Jackson Kay put MIT up 3-2 with 2:17 left in the first quarter. Air Force tied the match yet again but a score from Andras Beleznay staked MIT to a 4-3 lead at the conclusion of eight minutes.
Schweizer and Caspar Lightner scored in the second quarter to help the Engineers construct a 6-4 lead. However, Air Force quickly tied the match with goals from Tom Leggett and Tobin Hunt. Ligthner converted a man-up opportunity for his second score of the match to provide MIT a 7-6 lead with 1:23 left in the first half.
The Falcons tied it up just 20 seconds into the third quarter prior to Beleznay notching his second score of the day. Air Force built a 12-9 lead before Lightner converted a penalty shot with 21 seconds left to send MIT into the final quarter trailing by two.
Air Force got two quick goals to pull ahead 14-10, but a goal from William Ewald placed the Engineers back within three. Leggett scored to make it a 15-11 match but back-to-back goals from Rick Lundh made it a two-score game and Ewald’s second goal of the quarter inched MIT to within one at 15-14 with 4:39 left in regulation. The Falcons scored two more to stave off the Engineers’ challenge and hang on for a 17-14 win.
Schweizer led MIT with three goals while Belezany, Lundh and Ewald all had two.
Kieran Kearns and Luca Morocco each had two assists, while Derek Schaffer, Schweizer and Lundh snagged two steals.
Armaan Gill made eight saves.
Leggett led all scorers with eight goals.
Facing the Lancers of Cal Baptist, Cal Baptist pushed out to a 7-5 lead after one quarter of action. Lundh led MIT with two goals in the quarter while Beleznay, Lightner and Schaffer had the other goals for the Engineers.
The second quarter saw just four goals, with Cal Baptist outscoring MIT 3-1 to take a 10-6 lead into halftime. Beleznay had the lone MIT goal.
The Lancers controlled the second half and pulled away for a 21-7 win.
Beleznay, Lightner and Lundh all had two goals for MIT, while Schweizer had a team-high three assists. In addition, Schweizer and Morocco both snatched pairs of steals.
CBU saw 15 different players dent the twine with Wyatt Bugbee leading the way via a hat-trick.
Information courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Athletics Communications
