At the championship of the 2019 Beast of the East Tournament on Saturday in Reading, Pennsylvania, Brunswick beat Greenwich High, 14-10. It’s the second-straight year the Bruins beat the Cardinals in the title match, as Brunswick posted a 10-9 comeback win in 2018.
The Bruins (13-1) making their third appearance at one of the biggest water polo tournaments outside of California, posted remarkable results each year. Along with the back-to-back titles, Brunswick finished second overall in its first appearance in Pennsylvania back in 2017.
Five Bruins were named to the all-tournament team. Kyle Yelensky, Gavin Molloy and Gavin West were first-team picks, while Jake Charney and JP Ohl were second-team selections.
Additionally, the Brunswick “B” team won a title for the second-straight year, taking the crown in the tournament’s fifth flight.
In the title contest against Greenwich High, the Bruins used a pair of three-goal runs in the second half to pull away from the Cardinals. It was the seventh-straight win for Brunswick over Greenwich High, dating back to 2016.
Leading 6-4 at the break, Gavin Molloy netted two third-quarter tallies 30 seconds apart, including the second marker at 5:15, giving the Bruins an 8-4 lead. Nearly two minutes later, Danny Taylor set-up Kyle Yelensky for a goal to give Brunswick a 9-5 advantage.
The two rivals later exchanged two goals apiece, before the Cardinals capped the quarter with one final goal, as the Bruins took an 11-7 lead into the final frame.
Brunswick opened the fourth quarter with its second three-goal spurt to put the game out of reach. Jack Moore opened the run on a goal with under six minutes to play. Taylor followed with a solo goal less than a minute later, as JP Ohl finished the scoring for the Bruins at the 4:23 mark, giving the Bruins a 14-7 advantage.
The Cardinals finished the contest with a trio of late goals for the 14-11 final.
Championship:
Brunswick 2 4 5 3 - 14
Greenwich 2 2 3 3 - 10
Brunswick Goals:
Gavin Molloy (4), Kyle Yelensky (3), Danny Taylor (2), Gavin West (2), Jake Charney (1), Jack Moore (1), JP Ohl (1)
Brunswick Saves:
Hayden Collins (7)
Earlier in the day, the Bruins advanced to the championship round after knocking off Haverford in the semifinals, 15-6.
Semifinal vs. Haverford (win: 15-6)
Goals: Danny Taylor (3), Luke Apostolides (2), Vilas Sogaard-Srikrishnan (2), Kyle Yelensky (2), Gavin Molloy (2), JP Ohl (2), Patrick Mullen (1), Gavin West (1)
Saves: Ryan Miele (5), Hayden Collins (3)
In the quarterfinal round on Saturday, the Bruins beat North Penn, 14-7, to reach the semifinals. Eight different Bruins scored, as Ohl led the team with four tallies in the contest.
vs. North Penn (win: 14-7):
Goals: JP Ohl (4), Gavin Molloy (3), Gavin West (2), Patrick Mullen (1), Ivey Gehring (1), Jake Charney (1), Kyle Yelensky (1), Danny Taylor (1)
Saves: Hayden Collins (3), Ryan Miele (3)
On Friday, the Bruins went 2-0 to advance in the tournament on Saturday. In the opening round, Brunswick topped Exeter Township, 9-1, in the first game and bested Wilson High by a 13-2 margin in the nightcap.
vs. Exeter Township (win: 9-1)
Goals: Jake Charney (2), Kyle Yelensky (2), Gavin Molloy (2), JP Ohl (1), Luke Apostolides (1), Danny Taylor (1)
Saves: Hayden Collins (3)
vs. Wilson H.S. (win: 13-2)
Goals: Gavin Molloy (4), JP Ohl (2), Patrick Mullen (2), Jake Charney (2), Gavin West (1), Danny Taylor (1), Ivey Gehring (1)
Saves: Hayden Collins (4), Ryan Miele (2)