Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 O'FALLON, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings men's water polo team was defeated in their season opener on Saturday, falling to the McKendree Bearcats on the road by a score of 12-7.

The Bearcats got on the board quickly with two goals in the first 30 seconds of the game, but Augie bounced back with two straight of their own from Joseph Addison and Colin McDowell to even things up. McKendree added a late score in the first with just over a minute remaining to take a 3-2 advantage into the second period.

Following a score from Mark Addison to tie the game back up, the Bearcats connected on five straight goals in the quarter to bring an 8-3 lead into halftime.

Augustana held McKendree scoreless in the third and inched closer with a goal from Zander O'Dwyer with just seconds remaining. The Bearcats answered with the first goal of the fourth period, but two more from the Addison brothers brought the Vikings within three. McKendree closed the game with three out of the four goals scored to hang on for the 12-7 victory.

Joseph and Mark Addison both finished with two goals apiece. McDowell, O'Dwyer, and Stevan Rasic accounted for the other scores for Augie.

Following the game, the Vikings took on the McKendree club team, winning in an exhibition match by a score of 19-11. McDowell had five goals to lead Augustana. Oskar Bannister tallied four.

With the loss, Augustana sits at 0-1. The team will be back in action on September 10-11 at the W&J Invite in Washington, Pa. The Vikings will take on Mercyhurst on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. CST.