CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The No. 17 Harvard men's water polo team lost its season opener to Cal Baptist, 16-15, at Blodgett Pool before defeating Air Force, 18-17, in the nightcap.

Highlights: vs. Cal Baptist | vs. Air Force
Photos: vs. Cal Baptist | vs. Air Force
 
A mix of veteran contributors and the Crimson's four first-years led the way to the split for the day. Senior Jack Burghardt (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) scored five times in game one and added a hat trick in game two. First-year Clay Carrington (Menlo Park, Calif.) scored four times in his debut and added one on a penalty shot in the second.
 
Harvard (1-1) never trailed in game two of the day against Air Force (1-1). The game was tied 9-9 at halftime, when the Crimson brought in first-year goalie Jonas Ransford, before a 3-0 run provided some separation. Despite a late rally by the Falcons, and a few lengthy delays, Harvard held on for the one-goal win.
 
In game one, the Crimson raced out to a 3-0 lead against CBU (3-1). However, it was all Lancers controlling the rest of the first half. CBU scored early in the third quarter to grab an 11-7 lead; its largest of the game.
 
The play of Ransford kept the Crimson in the game as momentum swung during the third quarter. A Ransford save on one end quickly led to the first career goal of classmate Geoff Slutzky (Newport Beach, Calif.) on the other as Harvard trimmed the deficit to one with a 4-1 run.
 
Burghardt, the reigning NWPC MVP, tied the game with his third goal of the game and soon put the Crimson back in front with his fifth. However, the Lancers had the final word with the final two goals of the game and wound down the remaining ticks of the clock to take the win.
 
Cal Baptist 16, Harvard 15
·       Less than three minutes into the game, Harvard held a 3-0 lead on Carrington's first goal, which forced an early timeout from CBU.
·       The Lancers answered with four straight goals, including a pair from Whitley Beamon.
·       Kim scored his second power play goal of the game to tie it 5-5 with just one second left on the clock in the first quarter.
·       After a Beamon penalty shot put CBU back in front, Ransford kept the deficit at one with a deflection on a breakaway attempt from the Lancers.
·       CBU took its first three-goal lead of the game heading toward halftime at 10-7.
·       Trailing by four, back-to-back goals by Carrington and Burghardt sandwiched a Ransford save as Harvard cut the deficit in half.
·       The Crimson's four-goal deficit was down to two, 14-12, going into the fourth quarter and the game was even with 4:30 to play as Burghardt maneuvered around the defender in front of the net and touch the ball past the goalie to tie the game, 14-14.
·       Two possessions later, Harvard went back to Burghardt for another goal in front of the net and regained the lead for the first time since 3-2.
 
Harvard 18, Air Force 17
·       Leading 3-1, including two early goals from Strauser, Harvard added on with a Burghardt goal late in the shot clock on a slick feed from Tsotadze.
·       On the first possession of the second quarter, Strauser blocked a shot in front of the net and buried a goal at the other end for a hat trick.
·       Leggett scored his fourth of the game as the shot clock was ticking away from 10m out to tie the game, 7-7.
·       A 3-0 run to open the third quarter opened up a 12-9 lead for Harvard and forced an Air Force timeout.
·       In the final moments of the third, Harvard pulled the goalie to go on a 7v6 advantage and Peabody found Burghardt for the goal from close range at the buzzer.
·       Strauser netted his fourth of the game, second on a penalty, to make it 18-15.
 
Up Next
The weekend continues Sunday at Blodgett Pool against Pacific at 9 a.m. and Wagner at 2:30 p.m.