WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's water polo team (0-1) dropped the opening two matches of the W&J Invitational. The team fell 15-5 to the Penn State Behrend Lions (1-1) and 19-15 in an exhibition match against the Yale Bulldogs.
 
Penn State Behrend 15, W&J 5
 
Junior Brody Souder (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led the Presidents with four goals in the contest.
 
The contest started out as a defensive battle, as only three goals were scored between the two teams in the opening frame. Freshman Luke Jacques (Dania Beach, Fla./Fort Lauderdale) recorded his first collegiate goal and was the only W&J tally in the first period. Penn State Behrend started to break the contest open in the second period and went into the interval with a 5-1 advantage.
 
The Lion offense continued to extend their advantage in the third period and took a 9-2 advantage. Souder found the scoresheet with the Presidents' second goal of the contest. W&J had their best offensive quarter in the fourth, but it was ultimately not enough to cut into the Penn State Behrend lead. Souder had a hat trick in the final period to round out the scoring for the Red & Black. The Lions went on to take the match 15-5.
 
W&J successfully won three out of the four period opening sprints in this contest.
 
Freshman Michael Stefanko (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) made his first collegiate start in goal and made five saves throughout the contest.
 
Yale 19, W&J 15 (Exhibition)
 
Souder and senior Dillon Parker (Nipomo, Calif./Central Coast New Tech) both led the Presidents with four goals in the contest. Junior Hector Santaella (Key Biscayne, Fla./Belen Jesuit Prep) netted a hat trick as well.
 
The two teams traded goals to start the contest as the Bulldogs took an early 4-2 lead after the opening eight minutes. Santaella and classmate Parker Elliott (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) both scored goals in the first period.
 
Both teams continued to trade goals in the second period. The Presidents matched the Bulldog offensive output going into the break with a 9-7 scoreline. Parker opened his scoring with two goals in the second. Souder, junior Joseph Aranda (Albuquerque, N.M./Menaul School), and senior Timothy Deutsch (Hazleton, Pa./Hazleton) all had one goal apiece.
 
The contest continued to be a high scoring affair in the final two periods as the Bulldogs extended their lead to 15-11. Souder and Parker both had two goals in the third frame.
 
W&J continued to push towards an equalizer and got the lead down to two goals. Ultimately, two converted penalty shots in the final frame became the difference maker as Yale went on to win 19-15. Santaella had two goals in the final period to complete his hat trick. Souder scored his fourth of the contest and sophomore Connor Tuegel (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) got himself on the score sheet to round out the W&J scoring.
 
Similar to the opening game of the day, W&J went on to win three out of the four opening period sprints.
 
The Presidents return to the Henry Memorial Center on Sunday (Sept. 6) for the final two matches of the W&J Invitational. The Red & Black will take on the Wheaton (Mass.) Lyons at 9:10 a.m. and the Connecticut College Camels at 12:40 p.m.