ERIE, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College men's water polo team capped its 2019 season with a pair of one-goal victories to place fifth at the Mid Atlantic Water Polo Conference Championships over the weekend.
 
After dropping the first game of the weekend to Salem, the Presidents battled back to defeat Monmouth 8-7 and Connecticut 9-8 on Sunday.
 
Sophomore Will Kitsch (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) voted named Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference-West Region Second Team.
 
Date: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019
Where: Erie, Pa.
Opponent: Salem
Result: L 8-22
 
How it Happened: Salem outscored the Presidents 10-1 in the first quarter and held the scoring advantage in all four quarters.

Top Performers: Nick Spehar (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) made seven saves in net for the Presidents.
 
The Rest: All eight goals were scored by different players for W&J.
 
 
Date: Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019
Where: Erie, Pa.
Opponent: Monmouth
Result: W 8-7
 
How it Happened: Monmouth used a 3-0 second quarter to carry a 4-2 lead into halftime. The Presidents rallied back with four-straight goals to take a 6-4 lead. Early in the fourth Monmouth tied the game at six. Dylan Gwinn (Baltimore, Md./Mount St. Joseph) provided a go-ahead goal before Monmouth tied the game with 4:14 remaining in regulation. Elijah Muzzi (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou) delivered the game-winner with 46 seconds left to hadn the Presidents the win.

Top Performers:  Muzzi, Cam Spicer (Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) and Gwinn each had two goals. Spehar had 15 saves in a winning effort.
 
The Rest: Ryan Bannon (Bloomfield, Colo./Bloomfield) and Andrew Edwards (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) each had one goal.
 
 
Date: Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019
Where: Erie, Pa.
Opponent: Connecticut
Result: W 9-8
 
How it Happened: The Presidents overcame a 5-2 first-half deficit and used a pair of goals in the final minute of the first half from Spicer and Geister to head to halftime tied at five. Connecticut scored three-straight goals to close the third quarter with a 8-6 advantage, but the Presidents won the fourth quarter 3-0 to take the win. Bannon scored the game-tying and game-winning goals in the fourth.

Top Performers: Bannon, Geister and Tyler Francis (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) each finished with a pair of goals. Spehar racked up 18 saves on the day.
 
The Rest: Gwinn dished three assists and Spicer had one goal.
 
 
The Presidents conclude their 20^th season of varsity water polo with a 5-21 overall record.