BERKELEY, Calif. - The Austin College men's water polo team used a fourth quarter comeback to top Penn State-Behrend 10-9 in the opening game of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament on Saturday, before falling to host school Cal 22-3 in the quarterfinals. The 'Roos are now 4-18 on the year.
Against Penn State-Behrend, the 'Roos grabbed a 2-1 lead after the first quarter behind goals from Max Wade and Robert Griffin, and second quarter goals from Cade Griffith, Michael Colmenares, and Brett Skinner enabled Austin College to hang onto that one-goal lead at 5-4 heading into halftime. However, PSB took control in the third quarter, outscoring the 'Roos 3-1 to go on top 7-6 entering the fourth. The margin would grow to 8-6 before three straight goals by Austin College put the 'Roos back on top, with Wade scoring twice and Nathan Butler putting the 'Roos ahead. Penn State-Behrend knotted things up at nine goals apiece with just 47 seconds remaining, but it only took 21 seconds for Austin College to reclaim the lead when Griffith found the net at the 26 second mark to lift Austin College to the win.
Wade led all scorers with three goals and Griffith added two, while Zachary Griffith made nine saves for the 'Roos.
Against NCAA Division I opponent Cal, the Golden Bears jumped out to a 9-1 lead after the first quarter, with Butler scoring the loan goal for Austin College, and the margin would expand to 14-1 at halftime. Alex Rodriguez and Connor Watson each found the net in the third quarter to make it 17-3 heading into the fourth, but Cal outscored the 'Roos 5-0 in the final frame to make it a 22-3 final.
Austin College wraps up the tournament on Sunday when they take on Penn State-Behrend in the 5th/6th place game at 11:00 a.m. Pacific.