BEHREND, Pa. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) men's water polo team was defeated by Washington & Jefferson University, 21-8, this morning at the Erie Invite hosted by Pennsylvania State University Behrend at Junker Center Pool in Behrend, Pa.

The Lyons dip to 0-3 on the season, while the Presidents improve to 1-1.

First year 2-meter Michael Ruemelin (Chicago, Ill.) netted a career-high four goals to go with a pair of steals to lead Wheaton, while first year Jack Ruggiero (Hamden, Conn.) scored three times and added an assist and a pair of steals. First year goalie Dylan Boccali (Ventura, Calif.) stopped 10 shots for the Lyons.

First year defender Joseph Aranda (Albuquerque, N.M.) (six) and sophomore utility Dillon Parker (Nipomo, Calif.) (five) combined for 11 goals, while junior Aidan Miller (Grove City, Ohio) scored four goals to lead Washington & Jefferson.

Ruggiero opened the match with a marker at the 4:41 mark of the opening quarter to give Wheaton a 1-0 edge. The Presidents ripped off eight straight goals, including four from Aranda, to take a commanding 8-1 advantage with 4:40 remaining in the second quarter. 

The Lyons snapped the run when Ruemelin scored with 3:32 to go in the period to cut the deficit to 8-2. W&J later owned 10-2 margin with 1:38 showing on the second quarter clock, before Wheaton scored three of the next five goals, including a score from Ruggiero to pull the Lyons within 12-5  with 5:14 left in the third quarter. 

The Presidents effectively put the game out of reach, scoring seven of the next eight goals, including a pair from Aranda and Miller, to take a 19-6 lead with 2:40 left in the contest. The teams traded two goals apiece to close out the match.