EMMITSBURG, Md. (October 15, 2023) – With three goals surrendered in the final 2:06 of the contest, Mount St. Mary's men's water polo succumbed to a late Johns Hopkins rally, falling in a 12-11 final. The game concluded the 2023 home slate for the Mountaineers.
 
Zachary Fischer, who made a recent return from injury, scored three times to lead the Mount. Aaron Tarr finished the game with two assists and two steals. The goalkeeping tandem of Sherif Hosni and Joseph Maxson combined for 17 stops.
 
Facing a 3-0 deficit, the Mountaineers rallied to trail by one at the half on a goal by Kacper Cieplik. Using the momentum swing, goals from Tarr and Eli Thalos put the Mount ahead in the third quarter. The sides battled to an 8-8 tie heading into the final frame.
 
A 5-meter conversion from Alexandros Bellesis and a 6v5 opportunity cashed in by Nate Valentine put the Mount up 11-9 with 4:36 to go. It looked like the defense would hold, but a pair of penalties allowed the Blue Jays to level the contest. With 51 seconds left, Max Blecher put JHU ahead, and a defensive stop via a steal ensured clinched the victory for the visitors.  
 
Mount St. Mary's battles Wagner and Fordham October 28 in New York City.  
 
Johns Hopkins 12, Mount St. Mary's 11
 
Team                  1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's      2    3    3    3
Johns Hopkins         4    2    2    4
 
Goals: Fischer 3, Bellesis 2, Lanquist 1, Thalos 1, Cieplik 1, Valentine 1, Hess 1, Tarr 1

Saves: Hosni 9; Maxson 8