Men's Water Polo Ties Program Record For Wins; Lions Split on Day One of MPSF Championships
The Penn State Behrend men’s water polo team opened the 2025 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championships with a 14-7 win over Connecticut before falling to UCLA in game two on Friday at Stanford University.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Penn State Behrend men's water polo team opened the 2025 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championships with a 14-7 win over Connecticut before falling to UCLA in game two on Friday at Stanford University.
Game One
Score: Penn State Behrend 14, Connecticut 7
Records: Penn State Behrend (8-18), Connecticut (4-14)
Noteworthy:
* The Lions tied the program record for most wins in a season at eight
* The win marks the fourth this season over Connecticut
* Behrend grabbed a 5-3 lead in the first quarter thanks to a pair of goals from Owen Kroh
* The Lions held the Camels scoreless in the second while adding three more goals
* Caden Currykosky posted two goals in the second quarter to lead with three at the break
* Andy Zhuri had seven save in the first half
* Currykosky tallied his fourth goal at the 6:15 mark of the third quarter to keep a five-goal lead at 9-5
* Nick Thompson scored his second goal and Kroh added another to push the lead to six goals heading into the final quarter
* Zhuri ended with 16 saves
Game Two
Score: UCLA 36, Penn State Behrend 4
Records: Penn State Behrend (8-19), UCLA (22-1)
Noteworthy:
* Division I powerhouse UCLA scored 10 goals in the first quarter and finished with 10 goals in the fourth quarter to defeat the Lions
* The Bruins held Behrend to four goals on 24 attempts while scoring 36 goals on 43 attempt for an 84.0 shooting percentage
* As a team, the Lions made 14 saves
* Kroh, Thompson, Rylan McDowell and Jack Johnson each tallied goals for Behrend
Next Up:
* The Lions will face the loser of No. 4 California/No. 5 Johns Hopkins tomorrow at 10 a.m.