EMMITSBURG, Md. (November 4, 2023) – Protecting a one-goal game, Mount St. Mary's men's water polo goalkeeper Sherif Hosni made three clutch saves, procuring a 14-13 victory over Johns Hopkins Saturday. In the second game of two on the day, the Mount made a ferocious comeback that fell two goals shy against George Washington, 13-11.
 
Aaron Tarr had the best offensive day, acquiring hat tricks in both games with three against JHU and six against the Revolutionaries. Drawing exclusions helped the team stay in both contests with Eli Thalos nabbing six power plays over the Blue Jays and Chrysostomos Valavanis adding another six against GW. In total the Mountaineers drew 33 opportunities of 6v5 – 19 of them versus Hopkins. Hosni split duties with Joseph Maxson in net, and it was Maxson who took the overall save collection, 13-12.
 
Seven different Mountaineers supplied scores in the Hopkins game, with four players chipping in for six goals to help take an early lead. The Blue Jays would counter with a second half charge that put them ahead 13-11 in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Thalos and Ayden Hess fought back with a pair of goals in 40 seconds elapsed time to level the score. At the 1:52 mark, Thalos struck again for the lead. Then it was Hosni's time to shine with the saves to seal the win, including a penalty stoppage.
 
The nightcap saw an evenly contested opening frame before George Washington responded with 10 goals over two periods to go up 13-8 with eight minutes to play. Mount's defense went to work, shutting down the home side to attempt a comeback. Three goals between the 3-minute and 90 second marks made things interesting, but the Revolutionaries were able to stall the comeback from there.
 
The Mount moved to 7-19 on the season and picked up their first win in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference play.  
 
On Sunday (Nov. 5), the Mount wraps up regular season play with an 11 a.m. game against Navy in Annapolis.

Mount St. Mary's 14, Johns Hopkins 13  
 
Team                  1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's      6    3    2    3
Johns Hopkins         4    4    4    1
 
Goals: Tarr 3, Wallace-Whitfield 2, Valavanis 2, Thalos 2, Bellesis 2, Hess 2, Valentine 1

Saves: Maxson 8; Hosni 6
 
George Washington 13, Mount St. Mary's 11
 
Team                  1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's      3    3    2    3
George Washington     3    6    4    0
 
Goals: Tarr 6, Bellesis 2, Lanquist 1, Thalos 1, Hess 1

Saves: Hosni 6; Maxson 5