ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's water polo team was defeated by Mercyhurst Friday night by a score of 19-8.

Victor Nguyen (San Jose, CA/Evergreen Valley) scored three goals to pace the Lions. Justin Vink (Los Angeles, CA/Granada Hills Charter) lifted Behrend back into the game by scoring twice in the second quarter. Vink cut the lead to 7-3 with his first goal coming at the 4:22 mark and adding his second just over a minute later with 3:13 left to play in the half.

Matthew Johnson (Houston, TX/Cypress Falls) added a goal just before the half at the 1:56 mark to cut the Mercyhurst lead to three. Johnson netted a second goal late in the third quarter with just 11 seconds left in the period.

Mercyhurst pulled away in the second half outscoring the Lions 6-1 in the third quarter, and 5-2 in the fourth quarter.

Carson Williamson (Stockton, CA/Franklin-Stagg) and Nick Pabich (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) also recorded goals for Behrend.

The Lions will return next Friday at 2:40 p.m. in the opening round of the Gary Troyer Tournament