Lions Compete at CWPA Regional

WASHINGTON, Pa - The Penn State Behrend men's water polo team dropped a pair of close games Saturday at the CWPA Division III Regional. They lost 21-8 agaist the host-team Washington & Jefferson and 16-11 to Mercyhurst.

Andre Sardaryzadeh (Murrieta, CA/Elsinore) paced the Lions (0-17) offense in the two games with six goals. Isaak Hatopp (Saline, MI/Saline) added five goals and Troy Valkusky (Drifton, PA/Hazelton) netted four.

In game one againsts the Presidents (4-8), Hatopp was the core of the offense with his four goals. After a quick W&J goal just 16 seconds into the game, Sardaryzadeh answered with one of his own, making the score 1-1. Kyle Frerichs (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) added his lone goal of the match in the first quarter as well.

The Presidents won the first quarter 6-2 and never looked back as they continued to build on their steady lead throughout the game which was too large for Behrend to overcome.

In a much closer game two, Sardaryzadeh and Valkusky each scored four goals. The Lakers (6-7) built a large lead through the second quarter, leading 10-3 at one point. The Lions scored four-straight goals in the third to help cut the Mercyhurst lead and head into the fourth quarter only trailing by four.

Valkusy struck first for his final goal of the game and made the score 12-9 in favor of the Lakers. Makin and Sardaryzadeh also added a goal, but Mercyhurst's four-goal fourth quarter helped expand on their lead that was so large for Behrend to overcome.

The Lions are back in action today. Game one is agianst Monmouth at 10:20 a.m. and the second game will be at 1 p.m. agaisnt La Salle.