O’Fallon, Ill. — Johns Hopkins University Athletics men’s water polo defeated host McKendree 20-10 Saturday afternoon, with Max Blecher scoring four goals in the victory. Johns Hopkins improved to 10-6, while McKendree fell to 6-12.
Johns Hopkins built a 5-1 lead after the first quarter and held advantages of 9-3 at halftime and 14-8 after three quarters. The Blue Jays scored six times in the fourth quarter to finish the win.
Johns Hopkins Establishes Early Control
Johns Hopkins opened the game with a 4-0 run before McKendree got on the scoreboard. Jonas King scored for McKendree, but Owen Bartlett answered 12 seconds later to give Johns Hopkins a 5-1 lead after one quarter.
Blecher scored twice early in the second quarter, and Matthieu Giauque added an exclusion goal as Johns Hopkins extended its advantage to 8-1. McKendree responded with two goals around a Johns Hopkins goal to make it 9-3 at halftime.
Johns Hopkins Finishes the Victory
Luke Mendelsohn and Giauque scored to open the third quarter before McKendree answered with two goals. Bartlett and Blecher then scored 21 seconds apart, and Armand Le Goff later helped McKendree cut the deficit to 14-8.
Alec Baker scored with 5:09 remaining to start a game-ending 6-2 run for Johns Hopkins. Bartlett finished with five points on three goals and two assists, while Baker and Mendelsohn each recorded four points with three goals and one assist.
Jasper Hirt added two goals and two assists for four points. Mason Hofmann recorded one goal and two assists, Giauque scored three goals, and Ethan Babel had three assists. Sebastian Isaacs made seven saves and added one assist and two steals.
Johns Hopkins Men’s Water Polo Schedule
Meet Me in St. Louis Invitational
Johns Hopkins had earlier defeated Saddleback 19-10 in an exhibition on Oct. 10. The Blue Jays were scheduled to face Salem on Oct. 11 at 8 a.m. in the Meet Me in St. Louis Invitational.
Johns Hopkins was also scheduled to play Mt. San Antonio in an exhibition at noon on Oct. 11.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Johns Hopkins created separation early and maintained control through three quarters before pulling away with six fourth-quarter goals. Blecher led the scoring, while Bartlett, Baker, Mendelsohn and Hirt provided additional production in the victory.
Source: Original report
