Lewisburg, PA – The first-year Wagner College men's water polo team dropped both of its matches on the first day of the Bucknell University's Bison Invitational on Saturday, falling to No. 9 Harvard 12-6 in the opening match, before battling No. 14 Brown to the wire in a 10-8 defeat in the nightcap.
No. 9 Harvard 12, Wagner 6 (Score Sheet)
Five different Seahawks scored in the Green & White's 12-6 defeat to No. 9 Harvard University with sophomore utility Devin O'Donnell (Pointe-Claire, Quebec/Selwyn/San Diego Mesa College) leading the way offensively with two goals.
The Crimson came out strong, scoring the first six goals to lead 6-0 midway through the second quarter before O'Donnell sparked the Seahawks' offense with back-to-back goals late in the second half to enter intermission down by a four-goal margin at 6-2.
Junior utility Ciaran Wolohan (Manly, Australia / St. Aloysius College / Golden West College) and junior driver James Grady (Boca Raton, FL/Boca Raton) added third-quarter scores as as Wagner trailed 11-4 entering the final stanza.
The Seahawks saved their best quarter for last, winning six 16 sprints to Harvard's four and outscored the Crimson, 2-1, on goals from reigning CWPA Rookie of the Week Oscar Nomura (Irvine, CA/Irvine), and freshman driver Matthew Miller (San Ramon, CA/California High), but it wasn't enough as Harvard went on to record the 12-6 win.
No. 14 Brown 10, Wagner 8 (Scoresheet)
After losing to Brown 14-5 earlier in the season, the Seahawks nearly pulled of the rematch today, dropping a hard-fought contest by a count of 10-8. The Seahawks took an early 2-0 lead in this one on goals from Wolohan and rookie Miller. However, the Bears answered with back-to-back goals to end the first quarter tied 2-2.
The Green & White then outscored Brown, 3-2 during a back-and-forth second quarter as Wolohan and Miller each found the back of the net once more. With the scored deadlocked at 4-4, freshman 2-meter guard Danny Rafael (Cooper City, FL/Cooper City) scored with one minute left in the half to put the Seahawks ahead by a 5-4 count at the intermission.
A goal from Warren Smith ignited the Bears' offense as Brown outscored Wagner, 5-2, in the third quarter with the Seahawk goals again coming from Wolohan and Miller as this duo combined for six goals.
Entering the final stanza trailing 9-7, the Wagner defense again held tough but the Seahawks managed just a lone fourth-quarter tally by Nomura as the Bears held on for the 10-8 win.
Wagner (1-7) returns to Kinney Natatorium tomorrow at 10:30 am and 3:30 pm when the Seahawks face No.18 St. Francis Brooklyn and the University of Toronto, respectively.
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