PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Connecticut College men's water polo team dropped its opening matches to Florida and Austin College at the Bruno Classic being hosted by Brown University on Saturday. The Camels, who played their first countable game since Nov. 10, 2019, fell to the Gators, 15-10, and the 'Roos by a 15-4 score.
 
Florida 15, Connecticut College 10
 
Connecticut College battled hard before ultimately falling to the Gators' club program in an exhibition to open the season. The Camels led 3-2 when jnior Sam Guy (Portland, Ore.) found the back of the net with 2:23 left in the first, and neither side led by more than a pair of goals until the waning stages of the second quarter.
 
Florida, however, utilized its depth to pull away. Leading by an 8-7 score with 2:39 left in the opening half, the Gators rattled off four straight and were never challenged the rest of the way.
 
Junior Christian Jacobsen (North Palm Beach, Fla.) paced the Camels with a four-goal effort, while seniors Mike Gertsik (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Lucas Verrilli (Evanston, Ill.) tallied two apiece.
 
Austin College 15, Connecticut College 4
 
Jacobsen drilled home the first two goals in the Camels' second game of the day, and the team built up a 4-1 advantage around the midway point of the second. But Austin College caught fire, and the 'Roos concluded the evening with 11 unanswered markers to earn the convincing victory.
 
Verrilli and Jacobsen recorded two markers apiece in the setback.
 
Connecticut College (0-1) will play its first home games in nearly two years when they host a conference weekend at Lott Natatorium in two weeks. The Camels will first face Johns Hopkins on Friday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m.