EMMITSBURG, Md. (September 24, 2022) – With an 18-8 win over Mercyhurst and a 24-21 win over Gannon, Mount St. Mary's men's water polo improved to the best start in their brief history at 7-3. They also leveled their conference standing in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo with a 2-2 record.
 
Tommaso Baldineti set a program record for goals scored in a game by an individual, scoring 10 times in the Gannon contest. Chrysostomos Valavanis chipped in 10 over both games, including six versus the Golden Knights. Another two-time hat trick supplier was Kiahi Horan, leading the team with five against Mercyhurst with three more against Gannon.
 
Goalkeeping was mainly held by Joseph Maxson, tallying 19 saves across two games. Sherif Hosni also participated in the Mercyhurst game, denying a pair.
 
The Mountaineers downed the Lakers with effective use of counters (4-to-1), center play (5-to-1) and two penalties from Baldineti and Alexandros Bellesis. Defense in the second quarter held Mercyhurst scoreless in a 7-0 run for a commanding 9-2 halftime lead. Nine more scores in the second half preserved the comfortable advantage.
 
More offensive energy was required to take down Gannon, which Mount St. Mary's happy to oblige. Scoring 15 times by halftime, the two sides played a near even second half. The Mount capitalized on drawing exclusions, converting seven of a possible nine 6v5 opportunities.
 
Mount St. Mary's remains unbeaten with Mercyhurst at 6-0, while the Gannon victory is the first for the program across five tries.
 
The win total of seven matches the 2021 team's mark from a year ago in the span of 10 games. Their trip to Erie concludes with a midway game against McKendree, occurring Sunday (Sept. 25) at the Hallman Aquatics Center.
 
Mount St. Mary's 18, Mercyhurst 8
 
Team                 1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's     2    7    5    4
Mercyhurst           2    0    2    4   
 
Goals: Horan 5, Valavanis 4, Hoy 2, Baldineti 2, Bellesis 2, Haney 2, Lemishko 1, Thalos 1
 
Saves: Maxson 10, Hosni 2
 
Mount St. Mary's 24, Gannon 21
 
Team                 1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's     7    8    5    4         
Gannon               6    5    5    5
 
Goals: Baldineti 10, Valavanis 6, Horan 3, Bellesis 2, Lemishko 1, Thalos 1, Haney 1
 
Saves: Maxson 9