ERIE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's water polo team opened the Erie Invitational with a split on Saturday in Erie, Pa.
The Presidents started off strong with 21-8 win over Wheaton (Mass.) before falling to Gannon University, 21-7.
W&J 21, Wheaton (Mass.) 8
The 21 goals were the most the Presidents have scored since their 2019 Senior Recognition game win over Austin College where they achieved a 23-20 triumph. Seven different Presidents scored in today's outing to put W&J on top in the 21-8 victory over Wheaton (Mass.).
Freshman defender
Joseph Aranda (Albuquerque, N.M./Menaul School) who scored a team high six goals followed by sophomore utility
Dillon Parker (Nipomo, Calif./ Central Coast New Tech) just a marker behind with five goals combined for 11 of W&J's 21 tallied goals. Junior
Aidan Miller (Grove City, Ohio/ St. Charles Prep) scored four goals for the Red & Black as well to lead the offensive line.
The Lyons scored the first goal at the 4:41 mark before the Presidents went on a hot streak compiling the next eight straight goals to get a comfortable lead, 8-1. This first offensive strike consisted of goals from Aranda (4), Parker (2), Miller (1) and freshman defender
Hector Santaella (Key Biscayne, Fla. Belen Jesuit Prep) (1).
A goal for the Lyons would break the hot streak setting the score are 8-2. Two more goals would be tallied for the Presidents, one each from Miller and Junior
Kailer Spicer (East Lansing, Mich. East Lansing). The final goal of the half was scored by the Lyons to end the half at a 10-5 score.
Parker Elliott (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen), Parker, Miller and
Brody Souder (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) netted a goal apiece in the third quarter to widen the W&J lead to 15-5 heading into the final eight minutes of play.
The Presidents sealed the deal with marks by Parker (2), Aranda (2), Miller (1) and Elliot (1) ending out the game with a 21-8 final score.
Gannon 21, W&J 7
Gannon paced the game in the first quarter quickly getting up to an 8-1 lead after eight minutes of play. Despite the Presidents stringing two goals together in the second with a goal at the 6:44 mark and powerplay goal at the 6-minute mark, the Golden Knights quickly regained offensive control and extended their lead to 12-3 at the half.
W&J scored the first goal of the third quarter but was unable to tally another as Gannon netted the next four straight goals to enter the final eight minutes ahead 16-4.
The Golden knights opened the final quarter with three straight goals and fended off the Presidents until W&J was able to tally two goals at the 2:45 mark and once again 20 seconds later at the 2:25 mark. The Red & Black would only find the net once more as Gannon claimed a 21-7 victory over W&J.
Up Next: W&J goes head-to-head against Connecticut College (1:30 p.m.) and Mercyhurst (4:30 p.m.) to conclude the Erie Invitational on Sunday (Sept. 22).
