MOUNT ST. MARY'S AT BRUNO CLASSIC at BROWN
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Mount St. Mary's vs. Mercyhurst (10:30 am); Mount St. Mary's vs. Pacific (3:00 p .m.)
Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center, Providence, R.I.
WATCH
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Mount St. Mary's vs. Augustana (8:00 a.m.); Mount St. Mary's vs. MIT (2:00 p.m.)
Balfour Natatorium, Norton, Mass.
WATCH (Augustanta) |
WATCH (MIT)
EMMITSBURG, Md. (August 31, 2023) – Mount St. Mary's men's water polo begins their fourth season in the pool Labor Day weekend, competing in a quartet of games for the Bruno Classic. Mercyhurst and Pacific are Saturday's opponents, with set start times at 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Augustana and MIT await Sunday with respective game times of 8:00 a.m. followed by 2:00 p.m.
MOUNT UPDATE
The Mount was able to double their win total from two seasons ago after finishing 15-14 last season while posting a conference record of 6-10. The Mountaineers finished above .500 for the first time since the program's launch in 2020-21 when they competed in only nine games and had a 5-4 record. Top returners include second-leading goal-scorer
Alexandros Bellesis, a player who registered 71 goals on 170 attempts and played 28 games. Behind him is
Chrysostomos Valavanis who registered 58 goals on 150 attempts and played in 29 games. Also returning is
Joseph Maxson in goal who tallied 197 saves, 23 assists, 38 steals, and was able to score a goal himself. With six newcomers welcomed to the Mount, newly appointed head Coach
Justin Vink and newly hired
Bobby Halligan have ensured depth to the roster and retained talent as they enter their first year together.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Two of the four opponents the Mount faces this weekend are coming off below .500 seasons in Mercyhurst and MIT. Augustana posted a 14-6 overall record and went undefeated in conference play at 5-0. Pacific went 22-7 with a 4-1 conference record and has been ranked number six in the National preseason polls.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Mount St. Mary's is 7-0 against Mercyhurst and 0-1 against MIT. This weekend marks the first time the Mount challenges Pacific and Augustana in the pool.
