Sport Shorts Spotlight: Water Polo Battles Nationally Ranked Opponents at Bruno Classic
 

MIT water polo opened the 2026 season at the Bruno Classic at Harvard, facing a challenging four-game slate that included two nationally ranked opponents. The Engineers battled Air Force and Wagner down to the wire, falling 17-14 to the Falcons on Saturday before dropping a 14-13 decision to the Seahawks on Sunday. Against Air Force, Jake Schweizer led MIT with three goals, while Andras Beleznay, Caspar Lightner, Rick Lundh, and William Ewald each added two goals, as the Engineers rallied from a four-goal fourth-quarter deficit to pull within one with 4:39 remaining. MIT continued its strong individual play against Wagner, with Lightner and Lundh each recording hat tricks, while Kieran Kearns and Ewald contributed three assists apiece and Beleznay recorded a team-high four steals. The Engineers also faced No. 13 Cal Baptist and No. 11 Pacific, with Beleznay, Lightner, and Lundh each scoring twice against CBU, while Lundh added two goals against Pacific. MIT returns to action on September 19 at Bucknell, where the Engineers will take on Mercyhurst and Mount St. Mary’s.