PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Division III No. 9-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) water polo team dropped a 15-13 overtime match to Division III No. 3 Johns Hopkins University before coming back to upend Wheaton College (Mass.) 18-3, at the Bruno Invitational hosted by Brown University.
Facing perennial Division III contender Johns Hopkins, the Engineers overcame a quick Blue Jays’ strike 30 seconds into the game to notch the next five markers – including an opening quarter hat-trick by Caspar Lightner – in pushing ahead 5-1.
JHU scored the opening two goals of the second quarter to pull within two at 5-3, but Lightner scored his fourth of the contest to double up the ‘Jays. Hopkins ended the quarter on a 3-0 run to send the teams into halftime squared at six-all.
Rick Lundh gave MIT the lead with a goal at 6:31, but Hopkins responded to pull even at seven-all. After Hopkins’ Alec Baker tied the match at eight, MIT scored the final two goals to take a 10-8 lead into the final quarter.
The Jays pulled even, but Lightner scored his fifth of the day on a five-meter to put MIT back in front with 4:40 remaining. Hopkins notched the next two goals to take gain a 12-11 lead with 2:09 left, but Luca Morocco swished a shot with nine seconds left in regulation to send the teams into overtime deadlocked at 12-all.
Luke Mendelsohn scored 68 seconds into the first overtime to put Johns Hopkins ahead 13-12 prior to Jake Schweizer posting an equalizer 30 seconds later to knot the game at 13-all. Owen Bartlett rattled off back-to-back strikes to provide the Blue Jays the lead heading into the second overtime. MIT had three shots in the frame, but all were turned away by Hopkins’ goaltender Sebastian Isaacs to allow JHU to escape with a two-tally victory.
Armaan Gill made 14 saves in goal for the Engineers, while Lightner finished the match with six goals. Morocco, Schweizer, and Lundh all finished with two markers for MIT.
Facing Wheaton, the Engineers raced out to a quick 6-0 lead after one quarter paced by two goals from Morocco and Andras Beleznay.
MIT continued to build on its lead by opening the second quarter on a 4-0 run before the Lyons dented the twine for the first time. Kieran Kearns scored with 3:06 on the clock to send MIT into the halftime break with an 11-1 lead.
Victor Perez notched a five-meter goal to extend the Engineers’ advantage to 13-2 and MIT went on to score three more goals to end the third quarter with a commanding 16-3 lead.
Derek Schaffer and David Ranaudo racked up the lone goals of the fourth quarter to put the finishing touches on an 18-3 win.
MIT had 13 different goal scorers in the game led by Beleznay with four goals. Morocco and Armeet Gill each had two goals.
Information courtesy Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Athletics Communications
