Water Polo Earns Comeback Win Over LIU; Falls to No. 9 Princeton in NWPC Action

BROOKLYN, N.Y. / PRINCETON, N.J. – The MIT water polo team opened NWPC play against Long Island University and No. 9 Princeton and finished the day 1-1 as the Engineers earned a 11-9 comeback win in the morning against LIU and followed with a 20-14 loss to the Tigers in the evening.

THE BASICS:

Scores:
- MIT 11, LIU 9
- No. 9 Princeton 20, MIT 14
Records: MIT (5-8 Overall, 1-1 NWPC), LIU (6-7 Overall, 1-1 NWPC), No. 9 Princeton (13-1, 2-0 NWPC)

HOW IT HAPPENED vs. LIU:

The Sharks took a quick 2-0 lead in the first, but Kunal Rajadhyax converted on the penalty shot to send MIT into the second trailing by one.
Jake Schweizer scored a six on five goal while Jackson Kay hit on a penalty shot to put MIT in front with 5:35 on the clock in the second. LIU quickly responded with a penalty shot and 6 on 5 goal to regain a one-goal advantage. Schweizer set up William Ewald for the tying goal with 2:36 left in the second.
After two goals put LIU back in the lead, Schweizer and Rajadhyax scored to send the teams tied heading into the final period.
A penalty shot goal from Daniel Goldgisser put LIU ahead by one at 10-9, but Schweizer tied the match at 3:17 and Rajadhyax scoring the go-ahead goal at 2:19 on the 6 on 5. He added an insurance goal at 1:41 to secure the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Rajadhyax scored a career-high five goals while Schweizer notched his second hat trick of the season. Ewald scored twice.
Schweizer also collected two assists, two steals, and two earned exclusions. Andras Beleznay led the way with seven earned exclusions.
Armaan Gill finished with 16 saves and a steal.

HOW IT HAPPENED vs. PRINCETON:

The Tigers raced out to a 4-0 lead and eventually built a 6-2 lead after one. Beleznay and Derek Schaffer had the goals for MIT.
The Engineers got two straight goals from Kieran Kearns and William Ewald to pull to with 7-4, but Princeton went on its own tow goal spurt to pull ahead by five. Beleznay and Ewald found the back of the net to get the Engineers to three. The Tigers closed the half on a 2-0 run to take an 11-6 lead into the break.
Princeton continued to build its lead in the third, taking a 14-8 advantage into the final quarter. Ewald and Beleznay scored for MIT.
Armeet Gill, Luca Morocco, Kieran Kearns, and Victor Perez all scored in the fourth for MIT, but Princeton came away with the 20-14 win.