BRIDGEPORT, W. Va. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's water polo team (1-14) was swept in the final two games of the Salem Invitational against Division II McKendree (11-11) and Gannon (12-9).
 
W&J 12, McKendree 23
The Presidents got off to a slow start in their third match of the Salem Invite, going down 13-6 at the half. Topher Mitchell (Annapolis, Md./Loyola Blakefield) and Aidan Miller (Grove City, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) attempted to build some momentum in the second quarter but were met with McKendree goals after each score.
 
The Presidents remained consistent in the third quarter, racking up another four goals to the opposition's six. A. Miller, Dillon Parker (Nipomo, Calif./Central Coast New Tech), Timothy Deutsch (Hazleton, Pa./Hazleton) each netted scores in the quarter, down 19-10.
 
W&J scored two goals in the final quarter before McKendree sealed the 23-12 victory.
 
W&J 11, Gannon 15
The Golden Knights got out ahead of the Presidents early in the first quarter with a 7-2 advantage. Duetsch and Parker scored the lone goal for W&J in the period.
 
Parker netted another goal before the half as W&J went into the halftime break down 10-3.
 
Brody Souder (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Joseph Aranda (Albuquerque, N.M./Menaul School) gave the W&J offense some life after the half, scoring three goals to Gannon's four.
 
W&J attempted a late comeback in the fourth quarter with their best single period performance of the day, outscoring the Golden Knights 5-1. Parker, Aranda, A. Miller all scored in the final quarter but ultimately fell flat. Parker finished the final match of the invitational with a hat trick.

The W&J men's water polo team returns to action on Saturday (Nov. 8) for another rendition of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conference Games at Wheaton (Mass.). The first match of the four-game weekend against Augustana is scheduled for a 9:00 a.m. start.