ANNAPOLIS, Md. (September 3, 2022) – Junior Kiahi Horan scored the game-winning goal as for the first time in the three-year history of the program, Mount St. Mary's men's water polo won the opening game of the season against Iona.  
 
Mount St. Mary's 13, Iona 12 (OT)
 
Team                 1    2    3    4    OT   OT2
Mount St. Mary's     1    3    3    4    1    1
Iona                 3    3    2    3    0    1
 
Goals: Valavanis 4, Fischer 4, Wallace-Whitfield 1, Horan 1, Thalos 1, Baldineti 1, Cieplik 1  
 
Saves: Maxson 9
 
Battling back from a two-goal halftime deficit, Mount St. Mary's scored seven times in the second half. The bulk of the offense came from the center positions with sophomore Zach Fischer and newcomer Chrysostomos Valavanis led the scoring from the middle.
 
Overtime consisted of a pair of three-minute periods. In the first session, Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield put the Mount ahead 12-11 with a lob shot off a counter. Salem retaliated in the second session, but as the clock ticked down, it appeared the game was destined for sudden death. That's when Tommaso Baldineti found Horan for the game winner.
 
Salem 18, Mount St. Mary's 16
 
Team                 1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's     7    5    2    2         
Salem                7    4    4    3
 
Goals: Baldineti 8, Belesis 4, Valavanis 2, Horan 1, Thalos 1
 
Saves: Hosni 8
 
The nightcap was a high-octane, offensive affair with 14 goals in the first quarter between the two sides. Aggressiveness was evident, culminating in an incident with three yellow cards and players sent off. There were seven penalties awarded to the Mountaineers, which allowed Baldineti to tie the program record for goals in the game. The Italian in his Mount debut converted six penalties, and Alexandros Bellesis converting the other. Bellesis, another newcomer from Greece, recorded the fourth hat trick for the team.
 
Mount St. Mary's battles Biola and Mt. San Antonio College Sunday. Game times are 9:15 a.m. at Scott Natatorium and 2:45 p.m. at Lejeune Hall.