WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College men's water polo team opened a busy weekend with a 9-8 loss against Penn State Behrend at the Henry Center Natatorium Friday evening. 

The visiting Lions claimed a close back and forth matchup by scoring the game-winning goal with 29 seconds left. The Presidents had one final chance but a steal sealed the win for Penn State Behrend. 
 
Will Kitsch (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) opened the scoring with a goal at the 6:09 mark of the first quarter. Back-to-back scores by the Lions helped them take a 2-1 advantage entering the second quarter. Ian Geister (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) tied the match as he fired a laser past the Behrend goalie to tie the score at 2-2 early in the second. The two teams continued to trade goals before Andrew Edwards (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) scored with 11 seconds left to tie the score at 4-4 at halftime. 

Behrend scored two of the three goals in the third quarter to take a 6-5 edge into the fourth. The lone President goal in the third was from Tyler Francis (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley). The Lions registered the first goal of the fourth to extend the lead to two goals (7-5) with 6:25 to play. However, the Presidents countered with back-to-back goals by Kitsch to even the score with 2:50 to play. 

After a goal by PSB helped them regain the lead at 8-7, Ryan Bannon (Bloomfield, Colo./Bloomfield) had the answer for W&J to even the score at the 1:40 mark. The Lions tallied the game winner with less than a minute to play and held on for the win.

Goalkeeper Nick Spehar (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) recorded nine saves in goal for the Presidents. Kitsch paced the offense with three goals while Edwards tallied a goal, three steals and two assists in the setback. 

W&J faces Monmouth (10 a.m.) and Gannon (6:30 p.m.) on Saturday at the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Games, which will be hosted at the Henry Natatorium.