WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Presidents split a pair of contests on the opening day of the Collegiate Water Polo Association Division III Championship, hosted at Henry Memorial Natatorium.

The Washington & Jefferson men's water polo team opened the day with a 19-13 win over Monmouth (Ill.) before dropping a 17-8 decision against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the night cap. The split means that the third-seeded Presidents will play fourth-seeded Connecticut College in the third-place game at 10:20 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19.

W&J (11-10) built an 8-2 lead through one quarter against Monmouth thanks to a pair of goals each by Mike Magdic and Josh Apple. After two periods it was 11-4, with the Presidents firmly in control.

Monmouth got the score as close as 14-10 in the third quarter thanks to a six-goal outburst. W&J closed out with five goals in the fourth, including two by Mitch Fountain, to close out the 19-13 win.

Magdic led the Presidents with three goals, while Fountain, Apple, Kevin Dunigan and Collin Higgins each posted two goals.

The MIT game was tied, 2-2, with 3:24 left in the first quarter, but the Engineers went on an 8-0 run that lasted into the third quarter when Nick Willison stopped the streak with a goal at the 3:58 mark.

W&J out-scored MIT 4-3 in the fourth quarter but it wasn't enough to rally, dropping the 17-8 decision.

Dunigan scored three goals to lead the Presidents, with all three coming in the fourth quarter. Carl Krause and Willison each scored twice in the loss.