Men's Water Polo Loses Heartbreaker to W & J in
Sudden Death
Behrend
men's water polo team took on the Washington Presidents in the Junker
Center pool on Saturday, October 20. The men were defeated
seven seconds into sudden death overtime 17-16.
In the first half, each team was putting on the
pressure. At the end of the first quarter, the score was even
at five goals a piece. Mitchell Dwelley (Carlsbad,
CA/Carlsbad) scored three goals for the blue and white, while
teammate Matthew Pluta (Erie/Cathedral Prep). The men were
unable to score in the second quarter, the score at half was 7-5
with the Presidents leading the way.
The men were down 10-6 in the middle of the third quarter to the
Presidents. But Behrend fought back. Anthony Spoto
(Birmingham, MI/Birmingham-Seaholm) brought the Behrend Lions back
into the game, scoring three goals in the fourth quarter.
Spoto evened up the score and forced the game into overtime.
In overtime play, the blue and white held the presidents off.
Spoto scored all four goals for the Behrend Lions in overtime, but
W & J would not go away, answering with four goals of their own.
This forced the game into sudden death overtime, with the Presidents
striking only seven seconds into the quarter, ending the game with
the W & J winning 17-16.
The men will be heading across town and back into the pool this
afternoon at 3:30 p.m. to take on neighboring rivals Gannon.
Up next for the men is the Division III Championships when they will
travel to MIT in Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday October 27.
The schedule will be announced later this week.