ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's water polo team earned a win its first and only home game of the season on Saturday, squeaking out a Senior Day win over the McKendree Bearcats by a score of 9-8.

Mark Addison and Rhys Lomax each scored for Augie to give the Vikings a quick and early 2-0 lead within the first two minutes of the game. The Bearcats responded with back-to-back strikes, but a score with zeroes on the clock by Stevan Rasic put the home team up 3-2 after eight minutes of action. McKendree notched the first three goals of the second period to earn its largest lead of the contest, but a 3-0 run from the Vikings countered the scoring spurt from the Bearcats and made it a 6-5 score in favor of Augie heading into halftime. Lomax and Addison each collected their second goal of the game in the frame, while Oskar Bannister notched one of two made penalty shots he had.

The visitors evened the score back up two minutes into the third and later moved back out in front with a tally around the five-minute mark. Alden Brinkmeier answered to bring it to a 7-7 deadlock with 2:23 remaining and the two teams played scoreless to keep that score intact entering the fourth.

A physical fourth quarter began without a score for the first three minutes until McKendree broke the tie with a strike with just under five minutes to go. Bannister's second converted penalty shot drew the team even with two to play before Colin McDowell notched the go-ahead and game-winning goal on the Vikings' next possession. A pair of defensive stands followed for Augustana to hold on for the one-point win.

Bannister, Addison, and Lomax led the way offensively with two goals each. Declan Hutton earned the win in net after saving 14 shots and collecting six steals.

With the win, Augie improves to 9-5 on the season. The team will be back in action November 9 for an MPSF weekend in Texas.