O'FALLON, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings men's water polo team dropped the final two games at the McKendree Mini on Sunday. The Vikings fell to the Mt. San Antonio Mounties by a score of 17-15 in double overtime, before coming up short to the McKendree Bearcats 14-13 in game two.
GAME ONE
Augustana opened the scoring with a goal from Luke Burger, and Rhys Lomax before Alden Brinkmeier found the back of the net in the first quarter. The Vikings trailed 5-3 after the opening period but responded in the second, with Lomax, Adam Rashed and Lincoln Nicholson each scoring to keep Augie within striking distance. Nicholson's goal came on an exclusion opportunity, helping the Vikings continue to build momentum offensively.
The two teams traded goals throughout the third quarter. Mason Landes, Ian Palmroos and Uros Ramic each scored for Augie, with Palmroos converting a penalty opportunity. The Vikings entered the final period trailing by just one goal after cutting into the Mounties' advantage.
Augustana continued to push in the fourth quarter, with Malte Faltstrom scoring twice and Brinkmeier, Burger and Cole Faux each adding a goal. Faux's score came with 1:33 remaining, helping the Vikings maintain pressure in the closing minutes. With both teams continuing to find the net, the contest was tied at the end of regulation and headed to overtime.
Palmroos scored for Augustana in the first overtime period to keep the Vikings even with Mt. San Antonio. However, the Mounties scored twice in the second overtime period to pull ahead, while Augustana was unable to find another equalizer.
Palmroos, Brinkmeier, Burger, Lomax and Faltstrom each finished with two goals to lead the Vikings' scoring effort. Rashed and Faux contributed a goal and an assist, respectively. Augie recorded 15 goals on 37 shots, and goalkeeper Ryan Roth finished with 10 saves.
GAME TWO
McKendree jumped out to an early lead in the opening period, scoring four goals to take a 4-2 advantage. Augustana answered with goals from Burger and Landes, with Burger converting a penalty opportunity to put the Vikings on the board.
Augustana continued to battle in the second quarter, as Rashed scored twice, including a successful penalty shot, while Trentin Lechleitner added a goal. The Vikings outscored McKendree 3-2 in the period to pull within one at halftime, trailing 6-5.
The third quarter featured another back-and-forth exchange. Brinkmeier scored twice in the period, while Palmroos added a goal to keep Augie within reach. The Bearcats answered each scoring opportunity, carrying a 9-8 advantage into the final eight minutes.
The Vikings turned up the offensive pressure in the fourth quarter. Rashed scored twice to help keep Augustana in contention, while Burger added another goal. Lomax then found the back of the net twice, including a goal with 48 seconds remaining that kept the Vikings within striking distance.
However, McKendree responded in the closing seconds, with one second left on the clock to seal the 14-13 result.
Rashed led the Vikings with four goals and an assist, while Lomax contributed two goals and three assists for a team-high five points. Brinkmeier and Burger each finished with two goals, and Landes, Lechleitner and Palmroos added one goal apiece. In goal, Marcos Moret Roldan recorded 10 saves.
With the two losses, Augie moves to 4-9 on the season and will be back in action on Oct. 24-25 for the MPSF Weekend I in Baltimore, Md.
