Box Score LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The Augustana Vikings men's water polo team claimed its third consecutive MPSF East crown on Sunday, defeating the Penn State Behrend Lions by a score of 23-7.

Rhys Lomax was the first to score in the game and put Augie out in front just 55 seconds into the contest. It was the first of three straight for the Vikings to begin the opening quarter as Oskar Bannister and Mark Addison each added a tally before the Lions found their first around the two-minute mark. Stevan Rasic's score with 27 seconds to go made it a 4-1 lead for Augustana after eight minutes of action.

A big second period ensued for the Vikings, putting up eight goals on their way to a 12-3 lead at the halftime break. Eight different players scored in the frame for Augie, with Lomax, Bannister, Addison, and Rasic each earning their second tally of the game. Alden Brinkmeier, Jake Fisher, Ian Palmroos, and Ben Symington all found the back of the net first time to help lead the team to a nine-point lead through 16 minutes.

Augustana enjoyed its second straight eight-goal period in the third, this time seeing multiple scores from Palmroos and Brinkmeier. Colin McDowell also joined the scoring category, while the team held the Lions to just a pair of goals. The Vikings led 20-5 entering the final quarter. Trentin Lechleitner and Zander O'Dwyer each contributed scores in the fourth to make it a total of 11 players with a tally in the win. Jake Fisher capped off the victory with the team's 23rd point to complete the 23-7 final score.

Rasic, Palmroos, Brinkmeier, and Bannister all scored three times to lead the balanced effort, while Declan Hutton and Henry Sothern combined for 13 saves in net.

The victory gives Augie its third straight East division title and moves the team's record to 15-6 on the year. The Vikings have qualified for the USA Water Polo Division III National Tournament, with matchups and other details to be announced at a later time. The tournament is set to be played December 7-8,