PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island - Playing in Rhode Island for the first time with multiple Ivy league programs on the schedule in this weekend's tournament, the Concordia University Irvine men's water polo squad surprised both of its first two opponents with its play.
CUI stunned Harvard 19-18 with a game-winning goal by
Levi Riegelmann that found the back of the net as time expired. Then later in the afternoon, the Golden Eagles nearly staged a full comeback against 20th ranked and tournament host Brown University down the stretch.
Game 1: CUI 19, Harvard 18
Harvard had rallied to tie the game with just a few seconds left, but after a Concordia timeout with 2.8 seconds remaining in regulation, Riegelmann connected for the buzzer-beater.
Joao Goncalves and
Hugo Wouters each scored five goals and they both also handed out three assists apiece to lead the Concordia offense.
Dimitrios Koritsas was credited with four recorded assists while
Wes Brazda added two more helpers.
Dante Soldati Ianora also was a force with four goals and a drawn exclusion while Riegelmann and
Kaliq Khan each scored two times.
Canyon Johnson also provided a boost and added a score and an assist.
Playing in Rhode Island for the first time with multiple Ivy league programs on the schedule in this weekend's tournament, CUI stunned Harvard 19-18 with a game-winning goal by Levi Rieglemann that beat the buzzer.
Derek Maddox played the whole game in the cage and made six saves while playing a part in two assists.
Game 2: Brown 15, CUI 12
After falling behind 6-2 after the opening stanza with Brown, Concordia played even steven over the course of the final three periods. The Bears built a 9-2 advantage but CUI outscored Brown 10-6 down the stretch and cut the deficit to 12-10 early in the fourth. Brown escaped by fending off late surges to swim away with a 15-12 victory.
Kaliq Khan led the CUI offense in the second game of the tournament with three goals. Riegelmann and Wouters each came up with three steals while also combining for three goals together.
Brazda and Wouters both scored twice while
Porter Rosenlof added three assists and
Nicolas Fuchs had two helpers. Maddox collected nine more saves for his efforts to help the cause.
CUI continues its Rhode Island Road Trip with games on Sunday morning against MIT at 5:30 AM PT (8:30 AM local ET) followed by a date with Johns Hopkins University at 9:45 AM PT (12:45 pm local ET).
The Golden Eagles will the fly back to California and prepare for their first two home games of the season. CUI's home opener is Thursday, Oct. 1 at 10 AM against McKendree in a non-conference game followed by a 1 pm match later that same day with Mount Saint Mary's. Both games will be at Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's water polo schedule
