Wagner College Gets Grounded by No. 11 University of California-San Diego, 16-10, No. 7 University of the Pacific, 17-9, & No. 19 Santa Clara University, 17-10, at Princeton Invitational
PRINCETON, N.J. — The Wagner College men’s water polo team fell to No. 11-ranked the University of California-San Diego, 16-10, No. 7 University of the Pacific, 17-9, and No. 19 Santa Clara University, 17-10, at the 2024 Princeton Invitational hosted by Princeton University at DeNunzio Pool on Friday-Sunday, September 13-15.
On September 13 versus UC-San Diego, Wagner fell behind 3-0 in the opening minutes of the game. A late first quarter goal from senior Kyle Chambers brought the Seahawks within one at 4-3 before the conclusion of the first quarter. The Seahawks knotted the game at seven-all thanks to another goal from Chambers to end the half.
However, the Tritons scored four unanswered goals to begin the second half. A goal from senior Mattia Bognolo ended the run for UC-San Diego. Bognolo found the back of the net again in the fourth quarter and junior Laszlo Strasser connected as well in the final seconds in a six-score loss.
Strasser (three), Chambers (two) and Bognolo (two) led the Seahawks with multi-goal games.
A day later, the Pacific Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead but they were quickly matched by a pair of Seahawks’ goals from Bognolo and Strasser. The teams traded goals to end the quarter, and the game stood at three-all after one quarter of action. In the second quarter Wagner found the back of the net twice but found themselves down 10-5 at the break.
Sophomore Patrick Ray scored the opening goal for Wagner in the second half cutting the Pacific lead to four. Ray added another strike in the quarter to bring his total up to four goals on the day. Strasser also scored two goals in the final quarter but it was not enough as the Seahawks fell by eight goals.
Ray (four) and Strasser (three) keyed the Wagner offense with multi-goal games.
The Seahawks wrapped up the weekend on September 15 versus Santa Clara.
Strasser scored the opening goal of this game to give the Green & White a 1-0 lead. Senior Andrew Cowie and Ray also connected in the opening eight minutes as the Seahawks trailed the Broncos, 4-3, at the end of the opening frame.
Chambers knotted the game at four-all to begin the second quarter. Freshman Smith Connors joined the second quarter scoring with a goal of his own later in the period but the Seahawks trailed 8-5 at the half.
Four different Seahawks accounted for four goals in the third quarter highlighted by a goal from sophomore Vince Varga. However, the Broncos outscored the Green & White 9-5 in the second half en route to a seven-goal victory.
Strasser and Chambers keyed the Wagner offense with pairs of goals.
Information courtesy Wagner College Athletics Communications
