MOUNT ST. MARY'S AT NAVY OPEN
September 3^rd-4^th
Annapolis, Md. | Scott Natatorium (Games 1-3) | Lejeune Hall (Game 4)
 
EMMITSBURG, Md. (September 2, 2022) – Mount St. Mary's men's water polo begins their third season in the pool Labor Day weekend, competing in a quartet of games at the Navy Open.
 
Iona and Salem are the Saturday opponents, with respective game times of 10:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. California teams Biola and Mt. San Antonio College await Sunday, starting at 9:15 a.m. followed by 2:45 p.m.
 
MOUNT UPDATE
 
Transitioning to the top division of the men's game, the Mount went 7-24. The best stretch came in mid-September when the squad took four games out of six. Facing a difficult conference schedule, they went 1-11, earning a 15-14 win over Johns Hopkins on September 25^th. This year, the CWPA combined Mid-Atlantic Water Polo's divisions, allowing for more conference contests.
 
Kiahi Horan is the top returning scorer, registering 56 goals in 2021. Close behind him is Eli Thalos with 53 along with his team-leading 70 drawn exclusions, 54 assists and 12 field blocks.
 
A revamped roster provides competition and depth to the returning team, doubling the number of student-athletes from 11 to 22. The coaching duo of head coach Alyssa Diacono and assistant Justin Vink come back for a third year.
 
THE OPPONENTS
 
All four teams squaring off with the Mountaineers are looking for bounce back years, carrying win-loss records of .500 or lower. Salem finished with an even 13-13 mark from a year ago. Biola – like the Mount – is a young program in the sport, readying for their second campaign.
 
Top goal scorers from Iona, Salem and Biola are all returning for another year. Salem's Nikola Krstonosic leads the bunch with 77 goals and 35 assists.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
 
Against Salem, Mount St. Mary's holds a 3-1 record. They swept the Tigers the first season and split with them last year. Iona defeated the Mount the one time the schools competed – a 12-11 nailbiter during the 2021 Navy Open.
 
Biola and Mt. San Antonio College are challenging the Mount for the first time.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
The Mountaineers travel to Lewisburg, Pa. for the Bucknell Invite September 17^th and 18^th. Conference play opens during the tournament with games against Fordham and Salem.