Men’s Water Polo Defeats No. 17 Pomona-Pitzer, 10-6, La Salle, 12-9

Saturday, October 19

Cambridge, MA

12:45 PM

Brown University

Pomona-Pitzer

Men’s Water Polo Defeats No. 17 Pomona-Pitzer, 10-6, La Salle, 12-9

10/19/2019 9:43:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

Pomona-Pitzer Results La Salle Results

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Brown University men's water polo completed a sweep on its second day at the Harvard Invitational, defeating No. 17 Pomona-Pitzer, 10-6, and La Salle University, 12-9, on Saturday at Blodgett Pool.

The Bears (13-8) used third-quarter runs to best the Sagehens (12-8) in their first game of the day and the Explorers (6-15) in game two, moving to 3-0 on the weekend and extending their win streak to four games.

"It's nice to win our first three games of the weekend, and we can see the team making steady improvement," Brown head coach Felix Mercado said. "We will have to play very well against George Washington tomorrow to finish the weekend with four wins."

Freshman Cole Atwell (San Diego, Calif.) led the Bears with five goals on the day while senior James Thygesen (Menlo Park, Calif.) netted four goals against La Salle. Sophomore goalkeeper Ugo Piovan (Vouliagmeni, Greece) made 13 saves against the Sagehens, and junior goalie Riad Hallal (Coronado, Calif.) added nine saves against the Explorers.

Next, Brown concludes play at the Harvard Invitational tomorrow – Sunday, Oct. 20 – against No. 15 George Washington at 2:15 p.m. (ESPN+).

Game 1 – Brown 10, No. 17 Pomona-Pitzer 6

Freshman Cole Atwell netted a hat trick as Brown topped nationally ranked No. 17 Pomona-Pitzer, 10-6, on Saturday afternoon at the Harvard Invitational.

Playing in their first game of the day and second contest of the weekend, the Bears took a 4-2 lead at halftime and extended that advantage to 6-2 at the end of three quarters on their way to the win over the Sagehens.

Atwell (San Diego, Calif.) added an assist to his three goals while senior Armen Deirmenjian (Beverly Hills, Calif.) totaled two goals, two assists, three field blocks, and two ejections drawn.

Sophomore Matt Simko (Coral Gables, Fla.) tallied two goals and four ejections drawn, senior Hudson Rawlings (Murrieta, Calif.) posted a goal, an assist, two field blocks, and two ejections drawn, and sophomore Andrew Penner (Atherton, Calif.) and freshman Nick Berry (San Anselmo, Calif.) each scored one goal.

In the cage, sophomore goalie Ugo Piovan (Vouliagmeni, Greece) made 13 saves for his fourth double-figure save performance of the year.

After Pomona-Pitzer netted the game's first goal, Brown responded with a 4-0 run to take a 2-1 edge in the second quarter. The Bears closed the first quarter with three straight goals from Berry, Penner, and Atwell before Simko capped the run in the second quarter. Brown remained ahead 4-2 at the break.

Brown took the third quarter, 2-0, pushing its lead to 6-2. Rawlings and Simko provided the Bears' offense in the stanza.

The Sagehens pulled within 6-4 before two goals from Deirmenjian and a marker from Atwell moved the bears ahead 9-5. Following a goal from Pomona-Pitzer, Atwell closed the game's scoring.

Brown 10, Pomona-Pitzer 6
Brown....................... 3…1…2…4…10
Pomona-Pitzer........ 1…1…0…4…6
Brown Goals: Atwell 3, Deirmenjian 2, Simko 2, Berry, Penner, Rawlings.
Brown Saves: Piovan 13.

Game 2 – Brown 12, La Salle 9

Senior James Thygesen netted four goals to propel Brown past La Salle, 12-9, on Saturday evening at the Harvard Invitational.

Competing in their second game of the day and third game of the weekend, the Bears used a 5-0 run to turn a 6-6 tie late in the second quarter into an 11-6 edge over the Explorers late in the third stanza.

Thygesen (Menlo Park, Calif.) paced the Brown offense with his quartet of goals while freshman Cole Atwell (San Diego, Calif.) contributed two goals and two steals. Senior Armen Deirmenjian (Beverly Hills, Calif.) compiled a goal, two assists, four steals, two field blocks, and two ejections drawn.

Junior Aidan Reilly (Los Angeles, Calif.) and sophomore Andrew Penner (Atherton, Calif.) each scored two goals, freshman Leo Berkman (Orinda, Calif.) tallied a goal and three assists, and senior Hudson Rawlings (Murrieta, Calif.) dished out a team-high five assists.

In the cage, junior netminder Riad Hallal (Coronado, Calif.) notched nine saves.

Goals from Berkman, Thygesen, and Penner helped Brown take a 3-2 lead before La Salle pulled ahead 4-3. A tally from Thygesen knotted the score at 4-4 at the end of one.

Reilly posted the first two goals of the second quarter, pushing Brown ahead 6-4. The Explorers countered with two goals, equalizing at 6-6, before a goal from Atwell gave Brown a 7-6 halftime lead and beginning a 5-0 run for the Bears.

Continuing the run in the third quarter, two goals from Thygesen and one marker apiece from Deirmenjian and Penner staked Brown to its 11-6 advantage. Two goals from La Salle cut the margin to 11-8 heading to the fourth quarter.

Atwell pushed Brown ahead 12-8 before the Explorers netted the game's final tally.

Brown 12, La Salle 9
Brown....................... 4…3…4…1…12
La Salle.................... 4…2…2…1…9
Brown Goals: Thygesen 4, Atwell 2, Penner 2, Reilly 2, Berkman, Deirmenjian.
Brown Saves: Hallal 9.