LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Austin College men's water polo team held off a late charge by Washington & Jefferson for an 8-5 victory on Saturday, advancing to the MPSF East Championship game on Sunday afternoon against Augustana.
Cade Griffith put Austin College on top early, and the 'Roos would hold a 2-1 edge after the opening quarter as Max Wade scored the first of his team-best three goals later in the frame. Wade scored again in the second to push it to a 3-1 game, and Jack Stack tallied to make it 4-1 with 2:18 left before halftime, and that's where things would stand through two quarters.
Wade scored again midway through the third to make it 5-1, and Gabriel Daniels found the back of the cage with 2:49 on the clock to make it a 6-1 game. W&J scored to cut it to 6-2, but Aiden Wade got into the scoring column to put the 'Roos on top 7-2, and he'd score again with 43 seconds left in the frame to make it 8-2 heading into the final quarter. Washington & Jefferson held Austin College scoreless in the final period and managed to pull within 8-5 with just over two minutes left, but that's as close as things would get down the stretch.
Alan Rosenberg had five blocks in goal for Austin College, and Nikolas Koelzer paced the 'Roos with a pair of assists. Griffith led the 'Roos with four steals, while Evan Cueva, Max Wade, and Daniels each had two steals in the victory. The 'Roos move on to take on Augustana on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. (Central) in the third meeting of the season between the two teams, with Augustana having edged the 'Roos in each of the first two games.