EMMITSBURG, Md. (October 6, 2023) – Mount St. Mary's men's water polo employed several rallies in their home opener Friday evening but were unable to overcome the Bucknell Bison in a 15-13 defeat.  
 
Alexandros Bellesis, Aaron Tarr, and Chrysostomos Valavanis each scored four times for the Mount.  
 
Trailing 4-2 after the first period, the Mount stayed close with four goals in the second frame. Bellesis converted a 5-meter penalty with 6:16 left in the half to knot the score. Bucknell managed to grab the advantage back seconds later and keep it until halftime.
 
The Mountaineers rallied again to level the score thanks to another Bellesis 5-meter, drawn by Eli Thalos. Bucknell responded with a 3-0 run, forcing another comeback effort. Valavanis fired the first goal of the fourth period to pull to 12-11 before Bucknell struck twice to push back to 14-11 with 5:53 remaining. Although the Mount made a final attempt at cracking the deficit, the Bison made stops over the final three minutes, preserving the win.
 
Mount St. Mary's hosts a doubleheader Saturday (Oct. 7), starting with Wagner at 11 a.m. followed by a 7 p.m. game with George Washington.
 
Bucknell 15, Mount St. Mary's 13
 
Team                  1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's      2    4    4    3
Bucknell              4    3    5    3
 
Goals: Bellesis 4, Tarr 4, Valavanis 4, Thalos 1

Saves: Maxson 9