CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 13 Harvard men's water polo took down Gannon University 16-5 and Wagner College 15-9 to begin the Harvard Invitational. Junior Gabe Putnam tallied six goals and three assists on the day while sophomore Mot Stothart added five goals as Harvard improved to (15-2, 4-1 NWPC).
 
Game 1: Harvard 16, Gannon 5 
Sophomores Kaleb Archer and Mot Stothart got the Crimson out to an early lead with goals less than three minutes in. Sophomore Owen Hale then converted a five-meter penalty shot before sophomore Cam Dougherty capped off the first period with a goal, as Harvard led 5-1 after one.
 
The Crimson would continue its stout defensive play, only allowing one more goal before the half. Harvard tallied seven goals in the second period as Hale, Stothart, and first-year Alex James scored. Senior Jackson Enright also netted his second goal of the game and Harvard went into the half with a 12-2 advantage.
 
The second half saw a slower pace of play, as junior Gabe Putnam scored a goal in each period to secure his hat trick. Junior Michael Sonsini got on the scoresheet while Stothart capped off the 16-6 victory with a late goal. Junior goalie Nathan Wu stopped seven of 12 Gannon shots to secure the win.

Harvard Highlights Game 1

• Senior Jackson Enright totaled two goals, three assists and three steals in the victory.
• Junior Gabe Putnam and sophomore Mot Stothart netted three goals each.
• Sophomore Cam Dougherty tallied three steals to go along with a goal and an assist.

Game 2: Harvard 15, Wagner 9
Junior Gabe Putnam picked up where he left off in game one, scoring twice in the opening frame to give Harvard a 3-1 lead after one. The Crimson then repeated the feat and once again tallied seven goals in the second period. Putnam and Stothart would net goals while sophomore Alexandru Bucur got on the scoresheet as well. Sophomore Kaleb Archer secured a hat trick before halftime and Harvard took a 10-3 lead into the half.
 
Wagner pulled back to within four goals late in the third period, before senior Jackson Enright restored the five-goal lead for the Crimson. Sophomores Colin Le and Michael Del Mundo added goals in the final quarter as Harvard saw out the 15-9 victory. Junior goalie Noah Hodge made eight saves on 15 shots by the Seahawks.
 
Harvard Highlights Game 2

• Junior Gabe Putnam totaled three goals, three assists, and three blocks to lead the Crimson.  
• Junior Michael Sonsini tallied a game-high five assists to go along with two steals.
• Sophomore Kaleb Archer scored a hat trick while drawing five exclusions.

Game Notes

• Harvard picked up its 15th win of the season, reaching that mark for the ninth straight season.
• The Crimson did not trail at any point across the two games.
• Harvard improves to 3-0 against Wagner College this season.

What's Next? 
Harvard returns tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 17, to take on Salem University at 11:45 a.m. and Mount Saint Mary's at 4:45 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.