Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 USAFA, Colo. -- The Augustana Vikings men's water polo team picked up a pair of wins on the first day of the Rare Air Invite at Air Force on Saturday, defeating the Long Island Sharks by a score of 13-7 before knocking off the Ottawa (Ariz.) Spirit in a thriller by a final of 15-14.

Augie jumped out to a 4-1 lead after a period of play in their opener against the Sharks, seeing two goals from Colin McDowell to help add to the early advantage. The Vikings posted an identical margin in the second quarter on their way to an 8-2 halftime lead as four different players notched a score in the frame. McDowell ended the first half with three scores.

Long Island posted a slight one-goal differential in their favor in quarter three to cut the deficit to five, but Augie's defense held the Sharks to just two goals in the fourth and seven overall. The seven goals are the third-lowest amount of points an opponent has put up on Augustana this season.

In game two of the day against the Spirit, both teams played to a 7-7 tie after one half of play. Ottawa scored five first-quarter goals for a two-point advantage after eight minutes of action, but the Vikings responded with a 4-2 second quarter to even things up at the break. Oskar Bannister had all three of his goals in the first half, with two coming in the second quarter.

Ottawa posted a slight 4-3 advantage in the third quarter to take an 11-10 lead into the fourth. Zander O'Dwyer notched the first goal of the fourth to tie the score at 11, but the two teams traded points from there on out, eventually resulting in a 14-14 deadlock with less than two minutes to go. With one minute remaining, McDowell ended the alternating streak and broke the tie with his third score of the game and Augustana held on for the one-point victory.

With the wins, Augie improves to 9-2 overall. The Vikings are back in action tomorrow against Air Force and Biola.