CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Connecticut College men's water polo team fell short in its opening matches at the Harvard Invitational on Saturday. The Camels lost to Wagner, 21-7, before finishing the day with a setback against Gannon by a 14-5 score.
 
Wagner 21, Connecticut College 7
 
Wagner, an NCAA Division I institution, burst out to an 8-0 advantage by having six different players find the back of the net during the opening stretch. Freshman Siaki Nelson (Montgomery, Texas) then put the Camels on the board with 3:03 remaining in the second quarter, but the Seahawks answered back and led by a 9-1 score at recess.
 
Led by Shaked Yacoby, the Seahawks extended their lead to twin figures at 12-2 by the 5:10 mark of the third quarter and were never challenged the rest of the way. They led 13-6 after three quarters and outscored the Camels by an 8-1 margin in the fourth.
 
Junior Christian Jacobsen (North Palm Beach, Fla.) netted a hat trick to pace the Camel offense, and Nelson scored twice.
 
Gannon 14, Connecticut College 5
 
Gannon, which competes at the NCAA Division II level, and Connecticut College traded goals at the beginning of the Camels' second game of the afternoon before the Golden Knights pulled away.
 
Trailing 10-1, the Camels got a marker from senior Mike Gertsik (Brooklyn, N.Y.) before the break to pull within eight. However, that was as close as they would come. Despite playing the Golden Knights even in the third quarter, the team eventually suffered a nine-goal setback.
 
Jacobsen recorded a hat trick for the second time of the afternoon to lead the way for the Camels.
 
Connecticut College (0-5) will wrap up competing at the Harvard Invitational tomorrow by facing two more opponents. The Camels will play against Salem at 8 a.m. and Mount St. Mary's at 1 p.m.