NEW LONDON, Conn. — The Connecticut College men’s water polo dropped both matches on day two of the Camel Round-Up, falling to Division III No. 5-ranked the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 19-6, and Penn State Behrend, 11-9, at home in Lott Natatorium.
In game one, the Engineers tallied 19 goals with 10 goal scorers, and jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first quarter. MIT pushed the lead to 7-0, before Jesse Ellis (Fresno, Calif.) got Connecticut on the board. Each team added one more goal before halftime, with the Camels’ tally coming from Cormac Stevens (Philadelphia, Pa.).
Connecticut used a strong third quarter to cut into the MIT lead, outscoring the Engineers 4-3 in the frame. Grant Archer (Miami, Fla.) and Siaki Nelson (Montgomery, Texas) each scored a goal, while Carson Neidert (West Palm Beach, Fla.) recorded two markers for the Camels to move his team within 11-6 heading to the fourth quarter.
MIT closed out the contest outscoring Connecticut by an 8-0 count in the final frame to come away with a 19-6 victory.
In game two, Penn State Behrend used a strong second quarter to come away with turn back the Camels, 11-9 .
Connecticut started quickly, racing out to a 4-1 lead after the opening eight minutes. Nelson opened the scoring just over a minute into the contest. After Behrend knotted the game at one-all, Ellis notched three straight goals to give Connecticut a 4-1 advantage on the scoreboard.
In the second quarter, the Behrend Lions tallied the first two goals to cut the lead to 4-3, before Archer pushed the Camels’ edge back to two goals. PSB responded with three straight strikes to move ahead 6-5, before each side added one more tally before the break with Jeffrey Harrington (San Diego, Calif.) converting for Connecticut.
In the third quarter, both teams settled in defensively as PSB netted the lone goal of the frame to acquire an 8-6 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Camels got as close as 10-9 with just under four minutes remaining In the fourth quarter as Stevens tallied two goals and Harrington added his second tally of the game. However, the Behrend Lions added one more goal to escape with a two-goal win.
Release courtesy Connecticut College Athletics Communications
