MOUNT ST. MARY'S AT BUCKNELL INVITATIONAL
September 17^th-18^th
Lewisburg, Pa. | Kinney Natatorium  
 
EMMITSBURG, Md. (September 16, 2022) – Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference play kicks off for Mount St. Mary's men's water polo this weekend during the Bucknell Invite.  
 
Saturday features the MAWP conference opener with Fordham at 11:20 a.m., followed by a non-conference showdown with McKendree. On Sunday, conference play returns against Salem with a non-conference finale against Mercyhurst.
 
MOUNT UPDATE
 
At the Navy Open over Labor Day Weekend, the Mount went 3-1 across four games. However, the finale against Mt. San Antonio College must be classified as an exhibition since the opponent is not a four-year institution. The weekend began with a thrilling overtime win with Iona, and a rebound victory over Biola after a defeat to Salem.
 
Tommaso Baldineti scored 17 goals in 39 attempts to lead the team. He is one of four members of the team to record a hat trick, along with Chrysostomos Valavanis, Zach Fischer and Alexandros Bellesis. Baldineti also led in assists with nine, and Eli Thalos added seven steals.
 
In the net, Sherif Hosni and Joseph Maxson divided up time. Hosni recorded eight saves in each of his two games, and Maxson registered nine stoppages in the Iona victory.
 
THE OPPONENTS
 
Fordham sits at 4-3, with the marquee win coming against #18 St. Francis Brooklyn by a 17-8 score. McKendree is 1-0 with a win over Augustana September 3^rd. Salem is at .500 after going 2-2 at the Navy Open, and Mercyhurst went 1-2 at the Washington & Jefferson Invite.
 
The Rams won the 2021 MAWPC East by going 11-1. McKendree, Salem and Mercyhurst finished second, third and fifth at the end of the season in the Western Division. This year, for this season only, the conference combined divisions making one large group.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
 
Combined, Mount St. Mary's stands an even 7-7 against all four teams. They are undefeated versus Mercyhurst at 4-0 and have yet to beat Fordham in four tries. The Mount's record with Salem stands at 3-2 and at 0-1 with McKendree.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Next weekend, the Mountaineers travel to Erie for four games. Penn State Behrend, Gannon and rematches with Mercyhurst and McKendree are on the schedule.