ERIE, Pa. — The McKendree University men’s water polo team lost two games on the opening day of the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Crossover at the Hallman Aquatics Center hosted by Mercyhurst University. The Bearcats opened the day with a 17-7 loss to No. 20-ranked George Washington University prior to suffering a 12-3 setback against Bucknell University.
In the program’s opening game against George Washington, McKendree received seven goals from seven different Bearcats.
McKendree jumped out with a quick goal from graduate student Josh Carlson (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way West) in the first minute and 30 seconds of the game. By the end of the first quarter, both teams had found the back of the net four times. Although the Bearcats scored two more goals to start the second quarter, the Colonials answered with their own pair of markers as the teams entered halftime deadlocked at six-all.
George Washington scored 10 more goals in the second half before the Bearcats answered with their final tally of the game from freshman Quinten Gallagher (St. Louis, Mo./CBC) in a 17-7 decision.
Junior/goalkeeper Jimmy Cronin (Naperville, Ill./Metea Valley) posted 11 saves and one steal.
In McKendree’s second game of the day, Bucknell’s defense held the Bearcats to just three goals. The Bison kicked off the game with two scores in the first quarter followed by five more goals in the second rame. McKendree’s lone goal of the half was scored by freshman Cale Koester (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central) to set the score at 7-1 entering halftime.
The Bearcats notched two more goals in the second half from freshman Zach Callejas (Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit Prep) and Gallagher, but could not overcome the Bison.
Information courtesy McKendree University Athletics Communications
