Garden City, N.Y. - In its final tune up before the 2024 Northeast-10 Conference Championship, Adelphi hosted swimming and diving powerhouse Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday. 

The Owls, who have won 15 NE10 titles on both the men's and women's sides, narrowly defeated the Panthers 49-45 and 49-43, respectively. 

Adelphi took its first victory in the men's 200 medley relay, when the quartet featuring Ryan Kakimseit, Connor Singer, Jake Chee-A-Tow and Eric Slavin finished two seconds faster than the next finisher at 1:35.10. 

While SCSU won the next several events, Slavin picked up an individual victory in the 50 freestyle before fellow rookie Aizel Pusing finished second in the 400 IM in a time of 5:02.69 to earn points for the women. 

Emily Munayirji clocked in at 2:11.32 in the 200 backstroke, followed by fellow Panther Shannon Pepe to each add to the the women's total score. Also in the 200 back, Kakimseit bested the Owls' JD Starkey to finish in 1:55.67 to place first. 

The four-day NE10 Championship meet is scheduled to being Thursday, Feb. 15 and run through Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.