LEWISBURG, Pa. (October 30, 2021) – Led by goaltender Marko Kruska, the Mount St. Mary's men's water polo team locked in a defensive battle with Bucknell. Kruska earned 15 saves, but the homestanding Bison thwarted many Mount opportunities, giving them a 12-9 win Saturday.
 
Sophomore Jason O'Donnell enjoyed another all-around game, pacing the Mountaineers in goals with four while forcing eight steals. Kiahi Horan recorded his fourth hat trick of the year by scoring three times. Goals by Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield and Eli Thalos rounded out the scoring.
 
O'Donnell got the Mount off to a good start with a breakaway goal to open the scoring. But Bucknell responded quick with three unanswered, taking the lead for the rest of the contest. The Mount tried several times to feed the center, but almost all attempts were interrupted by the Bison.
 
Trailing 5-2 at half, the Mountaineers worked to stay in the game, but could only muster level play. Horan tallied his goals in the fourth quarter, accounting for all the team's scores in the final frame by himself.
 
The defeat drops the Mount to 6-15 (1-5 MAWPC) this season, who hosts their home opener Sunday (Oct. 31) at 1 p.m. from the ARCC Swimming Pool.
 
Bucknell 12, Mount St. Mary's 9
 
Team                     1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's         1    1    4    3
Bucknell                 3    2    4    3
 
Mount St. Mary's Goals: O'Donnell 4, Horan 3, Wallace-Whitfield 1, Thalos 1