ERIE, Pa. — The Washington & Jefferson College men’s water polo team split a pair of matches on day one of the Penn State Behrend Invitational at the Junker Center Pool. W&J opened the day with a 17-7 loss to Austin College before battling to earn a narrow 15-14 victory over Augustana College.
In the Presidents’ opening game of the day, W&J was unable to hold the early lead as Austin powered its way to a 17-7 victory. The Presidents jumped out to a 3-2 lead after the first quarter. Will Kitsch (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and Andrew Edwards (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) combined to account for the first quarter goals to help W&J take the lead. The Kangaroos scored three of the four second quarter goals to build a 5-4 lead at halftime. Cam Spicer (East Lansing, Mich./Lansing) tallied the lone second quarter goal for the Red & Black.
Spicer and AJ Alderman (Camp Hill, Pa./Cumberland Valley) each scored in the third quarter. However, Austin used a 5-2 edge in the frame to stretch its lead to 10-6 entering the fourth quarter.
Austin put the match away with seven of the eight goals in the fourth quarter. Kitsch scored the lone goal in the fourth to record a hat trick for W&J.
Facing first-year varsity program Augustana, a five-goal effort by Kitsch propelled the Presidents to a 15-14 victory.
Andrew Edwards netted a hat trick with three goals in the win. Chris Edwards (Bexley, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) and Spicer added two goals apiece. Kyle Rubenstein (Abington, Pa./Upper Dublin), Mitchell Rubio (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and Aiden Johnson (Nassau, Bahamas/Windsor) each chipped in a goal.
Caine Dusza (Souderton, Pa./Souderton) recorded 11 saves in goal, while Zishuo Ma (Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos) finished with four stops.
Release courtesy Washington & Jefferson College Athletics Communications
