Courtesy: Mount Athletics
EMMITSBURG, Md. (February 27, 2021) – Using a second half comeback in the opening game, the Mount St. Mary’s men’s water polo team overcame Salem University during the first day of the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference West Regional. They would battle Gannon for an opportunity to advance to the MAWPC Championships, but the Golden Knights pulled away in the second half. As a result, the Mount will play for third place in the regional.
Mount St. Mary’s 15, Salem 10
Down 7-5 at the half, Jason O’Donnell and Eli Thalos led the charge back, combining for eight of the team’s 10 second half goals. The Mount tallied five goals in each period, compared to one goal in the third and two in the fourth for the Tigers. Marko Kruska rejected eight shots in net to help spurn the comeback.
SCOREBOARD 1 2 3 4 FINAL
Salem 4 3 1 2 10
Mount St. Mary’s 4 1 5 5 15
Salem Goals: Rowley 4, Zivojinovic 3, Silva 2, Leontijevic 1
Mount St. Mary’s Goals: O’Donnell 7, Thalos 4, Fitch 2, Cudahy 1, Schwanke 1
Gannon 16, Mount St. Mary’s 9
To advance to the championships next weekend, the Mount would have to get by the defending champions. Early saves by Kruska kept the underdogs in the contest, as the Golden Knights – nearly upset in their first game – struggled to convert on scoring opportunities.
The upset bid was deflected in the third quarter when Gannon exploded for seven goals against the Mountaineers. Once the Golden Knights crossed the five goal threshold, the Mount could only shave it back down to four.
O’Donnell once again led the game in goals, duplicating his earlier effort with seven more.
SCOREBOARD 1 2 3 4 FINAL
Gannon 4 2 7 3 16
Mount St. Mary’s 2 2 4 1 9
Gannon Goals: Mickic 6, Kaverman 2, Schmitzerle 2, Bolmanski 2, Squeglia 2, Vieira 1, Petzold 1
Mount St. Mary’s Goals: O’Donnell 7, Twizell 1, Fitch 1
Next Up
The Mount concludes their season in the third place game when they take on Mercyhurst, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Sunday (Feb. 28).