USAFA, Colo. (August 29, 2025) – Mount St. Mary's men's water polo fell in their opening match up of the 2025 season to the United States Air Force Academy in Friday night's contest by a score of 24-14. With the loss, the Mount begins their season with 0-1 record heading into tomorrow's doubleheader at the Rare Air Challenge.
 
The first quarter started well for the Mountaineers, as Alexandros Belesis found the net for the Mount with seven minutes on the clock to tie the game 1-1 against the Falcons. Ioannis Skliras kept things close with four minutes on the clock, with the freshman from Athens, Greece scoring his first goal for the Mountaineers to make it 3-2. Veteran Chrysostomos Valavanis ended the Mountaineer attacking efforts in the period, when his goal in the final minute making it 7-3 headed into the intermission.
 
Aaron Tarr began things in the second quarter, scoring his first goal within a minute of play to cut the lead to three. The South African scored again with two minutes left in the quarter to make it 10-5 with two minutes left. Belesis also noted his second goal of the game with nine seconds left, taking the team into the halftime break, down 12-6.
 
The Mount offense got things started early and fast to start the third, after a hat trick completing third goal from Belesis game off a sprint win to start the quarter. A minute later, the offense found Tarr in transition with open pool, allowing the junior to beat the keeper one on one to complete his hat trick. Valavanis followed suit a minute later followed by a debut goal from Nikolaos Agritelis with five minutes left in the third. Agritelis completed his hat trick in succession with the next two goals followed by a fourth from Tarr and a third from Valavanis within the last minute of play, cutting the deficit to four headed into the final intermission.
 
Air Force completed a fourth quarter shutout against the Mount while adding to their lead, sealing their second win of the day against the Mount. A standout third quarter which saw the Mount win 8-6 was highlighted by excellent play from Agritelis, Valavanis, Belesis, and Tarr, all completing hat tricks against the Falcons. Wes Reising and Ayden Hess completed multi-assist appearances while Gunner Lanquist recorded two steals against Air Force. In goal, Sherif Hosni recorded 11 saves across the four quarters of play.
 
 
Air Force 24, Mount St. Mary's 14

Team                          1    2    3    4     F 
Mount St. Mary's              3    3    8    0     14
Air Force                     7    5    6    5     24
 
Goals: Tarr 4, Belesis 3, Agritelis 3, Valavanis 3, Skliras 1
 
Saves: Hosni 11
 
COMING UP
 
The Mountaineers return to the pool tomorrow in a double header match up against Biola and Redlands, with game start at 11 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. respectively.