EMMITSBURG, Md. (October 15, 2022) – Freshman Alexandros Bellesis delivered Mount St. Mary's men's water polo what could be considered its biggest conference win to date, scoring the game-winning goal with nine seconds remaining to lift the Mount over Navy, 15-14.
 
The winning shot capped off a busy day for the team, beginning with a competitive contest with Bucknell that went to the Bison late in a 12-8 final. The split brings the Mount's record to 13-8 (6-5 MAWPC).
 
Bucknell 12, Mount St. Mary's 8
 
Team                  1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's      2    1    4    1
Bucknell              2    4    1    5
 
Goals: Wallace-Whitfield 2, Valavanis 2, Horan 2, Bellesis 2
 
Saves: Maxson 9, Hosni 1
 
A defensive battle early, the Bison were the first to provide an offensive surge. Each side took advantage at the deeper end of the pool, beginning with four goals out of five to Bucknell for a 6-3 halftime score. Mount St. Mary's countered with a 5-0 run crossing between the third and fourth periods. Kiahi Horan registered his second goal to give the Mount its first lead at 8-7. But an extraman goal for Bucknell ignited a rally, holding the Mountaineers scoreless the rest of the way.  
 
Mount St. Mary's 15, Navy 14
 
Team                  1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's      3    7    2    3
Navy                  6    2    3    3
 
Goals: Baldineti 7, Bellesis 5, Valavanis 1, Horan 1, Thalos 1   
 
Saves: Maxson 11, Hosni 3  
 
Buoyed by an electric crowd at the ARCC Swimming Pool, Mount St. Mary's used a second quarter rally to go out in front against the Midshipmen. Tommaso Baldineti led the charge, scoring four consecutive goals to transform a 7-5 deficit into a 9-5 advantage. Chrysostomos Valavanis added another for a 10-8 score at the break.
 
The second half saw Navy make the initial run. Three different Midshipmen scored to turn the game back to an 11-11 deadlock. With 2:01 left in the third, the Mount was awarded a five-meter penalty, which Bellesis converted.
 
In the fourth, Michael Heller seemed determined to win it for Navy. With rapid succession, he put two shots in the back of the net and the Mids led 13-12 at the seven-minute mark. His third of the frame – and fifth of the game – put his squad up two with 5:56 left. Undeterred, the Mount made crucial stops, allowing Eli Thalos to pull the Mount within one.
 
The atmosphere grew tense as neither team could add to their total for several possessions as the clocked ticked down to seconds. With time of the essence, Horan faked out his defender and planted the shot in the left corner to level the score. On defense, Navy tried to take a chance on a quick shot following an exclusion but got denied by the post, setting up the opportunity with the Mount's game-winner. Adding insult to injury, a Midshipmen played aggressive with Joseph Maxson, committing an infraction, and giving the Mountaineers a 6v5. Brody Haney supplied Bellesis with the ball, who wriggled off his defender, charged out of the water and skipped the shot home. Navy sent its goalkeeper at the net, but his attempt bounced over the net as the horn sounded.
 
Idle next weekend, Mount St. Mary's returns to game action October 29^th in New York with showdowns against Wagner and Fordham.