EMMITSBURG, Md. (September 17, 2022) – Saturday's edition of the Bucknell Invite saw Mount St. Mary's men's water polo make strides against the defending Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference champion before charging back with a comeback victory over McKendree. The team fell to Fordham 17-13 before defeating the Bearcats 11-10.  
 
Fordham 17, Mount St. Mary's 13
 
Team                 1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's     2    4    5    2
Fordham              5    5    2    5   
 
Goals: Baldineti 6, Horan 3, Thalos 2, Belesis 1, Haney 1   
 
Saves: Maxson 10
 
After being outpaced 77-33 across a combined four games with the Rams last season, the Mountaineers showed improvements in the first meeting in 2022. Trimming an early deficit down to 12-11 by the end of the third quarter came on the help of counter attacks, producing six scores. But Fordham shutout the Mount when battling 6v6 and converted four times to one at the center position. The Rams used a five-goal final frame to hold off a comeback and take the victory.
 
Despite the defeat, the Mount proved efficient with scoring goals. At 41.9, their goals-to-shots percentage is the best on the year thus far.
 
Mount St. Mary's 11, McKendree 10
 
Team                  1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's      5    0    3    3         
McKendree             4    2    3    1
 
Goals: Baldineti 4, Valavanis 3, Belesis 2, Wallace-Whitfield 1, Horan 1
 
Saves: Hosni 6
 
Holding a lead after one, the Mount found themselves down at half due to a scoreless second period. The teams leveled at three goals each to make it 9-8 after three quarters. McKendree held firm by also taking advantage of 6v6 play while converting three penalties.
 
Needing a comeback in the fourth, the Mountaineers overcame the one-point deficit, then used Tommaso Baldineti's 10^th goal on the day to take the lead for good. The win for the Mount evens the all-time series with the Bearcats at one game apiece. This was the first meeting between the sides since the Mount's inaugural campaign.
 
The split decision puts Mount St. Mary's season record at 3-2 (0-1 MAWPC).
 
Sunday pits the Mount against Salem at 10:40 a.m., followed by a 4 p.m. finale with Mercyhurst. The opener versus the Tigers counts toward MAWPC standings.