MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The Washington & Jefferson College men's water polo team opened the 2021 season with a pair of matches at the Aquatic Center in Morgantown, W.Va. McKendree University downed W&J by a 24-6 margin in the opener. The Presidents then fell 17-10 to Mount St. Mary's (Md.) in the second match of the day. 

McKendree 24, W&J 6

Mitchell Rubio (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) led the Presidents with a pair of goals in the opener against McKendree. Will Kitsch (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin), Ryan Bannon (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield), Kyle Rubenstein (Abington, Pa./Upper Dublin) and AJ Alderman (Camp Hill, Pa./Cumberland Valley) each tallied a single goal. 

Rubenstein, Ethan Moy (New York, N.Y./The High School for Math, Science & Engineering), Robert Niino (Madera, Calif./Madera) and Robert Koch (Worcester, Pa./La Salle College) each registered an assist. Kitsch tallied four shot blocks and Tyler Francis (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) had two steals. 

Alex Lee (Los Angeles, Calif./Eagle Rock) recorded seven saves and three steals in goal for W&J. 

Mount St. Mary's 17, W&J 10

Newcomer Chris Edwards (Bexley, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) led W&J with four goals and four steals in the nightcap. Kitsch tallied three goals while Rubio added two and Alderson found the back of the net once. 

Francis registered a pair of assists against MSM while Niino added one helper. Moy had two steals while Rubio accounted for two shot blocks. 

Lee added seven more saves in game two. 

What's Next: W&J is scheduled to face Gannon (1 PM) and Mercyhurst (4 PM) on Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Hallman Aquatics Center in Erie, Pa.