PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Wagner College men’s water polo team opened the 2025 season by turning back Long Island University, 13-5, and falling to host/No. 17-ranked Brown University, 19-9, at the Bruno Classic hosted by the Bears at the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center.
Wagner came out firing in its opener against fellow New York institution Long Island to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter behind goals from freshman Landon Castillo, sophomore Matt Wedlock and junior Maayan Nahari. LIU pulled within one at 3-2 and tied the Seahawks at three-all shortly after the beginning of the second quarter, The Seahawks scored two more times to set the scoreboard at 5-3 entering halftime.
The Green & White’s defense clamped down from there, holding LIU to just two goals the rest of the way.
Sophomore Matan Friedenberg and Strasser both struck for goals in the third quarter, while freshman Nadav Carmon delivered three markers to accompany solo strikes from Castillo, Friedenberg and Aksel Gerhardstein in the fourth quarter on the way to a 13-5 victory.
Facing the nationally ranked host Bears, Wagner fell behind early as Brown jumped out to a 6-3 first-quarter lead. Junior Vince Varga buried a pair of shots in the opening eight minutes, while Carmon – who finished with a pair of scores in the contest- helped him by scoring another goal to keep pace.
Brown’s offense continued to surge in the second quarter, outscoring Wagner 6-1 to take a 12-4 advantage by halftime.
Friedenberg provided a bright spot in the third quarter, tacking on two goals. Sophomore Smith Connors added another pair of goals, including one in the final frame, but Brown’s balanced scoring attack proved too much as Wagner fell 19-9.
Release courtesy Wagner College Athletics Communications
