WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's water polo team (0-1) opened their season with a 22-9 loss to the Gannon Golden Knights (2-3) to open play at the annual W&J Invitational.
 
Both units opened the night with goals a minute apart. Freshman Topher Mitchell (Annapolis, Md./Loyola Blakefield) was credited with the first goal of the 2025 season for W&J. Following a three-point run from the Golden Knights, the Presidents responded with a goal from freshman Ciro Pro (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita of Cascia). Brothers Liam Miller (Grove City, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) and Aidan Miller (Grove City, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) each netted goals to close the first quarter, down 5-4.
 
The Golden Knights found their rhythm offensively to being the second quarter, scoring five consecutive points. A goal from Brody Souder (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) broke the scoring run to bring the Gannon lead to 9-5. Dillon Parker (Nipomo, Calif./Central Coast New Tech) of the Presidents scored the final two goals to close the first half including a goal at the two second mark, 11-7.
 
The Golden Knights came out of the break in stride while the Presidents only managed to score two goals for the remainder of the match. Pro and Mitchell scored goals in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
 
Andrew Rippke (Perrysburg, Ohio/Saint Francis De Sales) and Jonah Richardson (Deerfield, Ill./Highland Park) each spent time in goal. Rippke finished with two saves while Richardson added one save.
 
The Presidents resume action at the 2025 W&J Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 6) as they take on both Johns Hopkins and Salem. W&J will face the Blue Jays at 3:30 p.m. and the Tigers at 6:30 p.m.