EMMITSBURG, Md. (September 30, 2023) – The Mount St. Mary's men's water polo team fell twice Saturday on the final day of the Gary Troyer Invitational, dropping a 20-8 decision to Air Force and a 17-13 decision to Biola.
 
Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield recorded the first hat trick of his Mount St. Mary's career, tallying three goals in the Biola game. Alexandros Bellesis finished the Air Force contest with seven points, divided into five goals and two assists.
 
Mount St. Mary's battled with Air Force to a 3-3 tie in the first quarter before the Falcons scored two more times before the quarter was over. They would go on to score seven in the second for a 12-7 halftime lead and limited the Mount to one second half goal.
 
Against Biola, the Mountaineers rallied from trailing 11-6 at halftime with a furious third quarter effort. Chrysostomos Valavanis scored two of his team-high four goals to go along with scores from Eli Thalos and Bellesis, pulling the Mount within one. Aaron Tarr scored on a power play to start the fourth and force the tie, but Biola finished with six of the last eight goals to earn the victory.
 
The Mount returns home and Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference play with a game against Bucknell on Friday, October 6.
 
Air Force 20, Mount St. Mary's 8
 
Team                  1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's      3    4    1    0
Air Force             5    7    5    3
 
Goals: Bellesis 5; Tarr 2; Valavanis 1  

Saves: Maxson 3; Hosni 1
 
Biola 17, Mount St. Mary's 13
 
Team                  1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's      3    3    4    3
Biola                 5    6    0    6
 
Goals: Valavanis 4, Wallace-Whitfield 3, Tarr 2, Lemishko 1, Lanquist 1, Thalos 1, Bellesis 1

Saves: Hosni 11