LEWISBURG, Pa. — The Wagner College men’s water polo team’s late game heroics earned the program victories over Gannon University, 16-14, Mount St. Mary’s University, 16-15, and Division III No. 9 Johns Hopkins University, 16-8, to accompany a 13-12 loss to host Bucknell University at the 2024 Bucknell Invitational.
On Friday, September 20, the Seahawks found themselves down 5-4 at the end of the first quarter versus Gannon. However, a pair of quick goals staked Wagner to a 6-5 lead early in the second quarter. Wagner’s margin continued to grow over the remainder of the first half as the team acquired an 11-7 lead in the final seconds of the second quarter thanks to a goal from senior Kyle Chambers.
The Golden Knights opened the second half with four consecutive goals to tie the game at 11-all. A goal from senior Kristian Stanczewski and a pair from sophomore Patrick Ray gave Wagner a three point cushion at 14-11 heading into the final quarter.
Freshman Smith Connors connected with 4:45 remaining and Ray added with another with 3:03 left for the difference in a two-score win as Gannon tallied a trio of goals in the final eight minutes.
Facing Mount St. Mary’s in a Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) game on Saturday, September 21, Wagner received a trio of scores from Chambers, Connors and Ray to pull ahead 3-0. The Seahawks and the Mountaineers both racked up three more goals in the opening eight minutes as Wagner held a 6-3 lead after the conclusion of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Mountaineers scored two quick goals to bring them within one before freshman Matt Wedlock found the back of the net for Wagner. Mount St. Mary’s rallied back to knot the game at eight-all, but the Seahawks were able to take push ahead for a 10-9 lead going into halftime.
Identical to the first half, the Green & White started the second half with three straight goals thanks to two from Stanczewski and a solo marker by Connors.
In the fourth quarter the Mountaineers matched another goal from Stanczewski to bring them within three at 15-12. Mount St. Mary’s continued to comeback as the team notched a trio of unanswered goals to tie the contest at 15-all with 18 seconds remaining.
However, Connors delivered a straight on strike to the back of the net prior to time expiring to give the Seahawks a one-goal win.
Stanczewski lead Wagner’s offense with five goals in the win, while Wedlock (three), Connors (three) and Chambers (two) also posted multi-score contests.
The Seahawks’ luck turned in another MAWPC game versus the host Bison of Bucknell on Sunday, September 22.
Tied at three-all after the first quarter, senior Mattia Bognolo opened the second quarter with a goal for the Seahawks. The Bison stormed back, however, with four goals on the way to an 8-5 halftime lead.
Bognolo scored two of his four goals for Wagner in the third quarter, but Bucknell took their largest lead of the contest at 11-6 and held a 12-8 spread heading into the fourth quarter.
The Seahawks scored three goals to Bucknell’s one goal over the final eight minutes to move within 13-12 with 34 seconds left on the clock. Wagner had one final chance to post a tying strike as freshman Ian Conway made a save with seven second left for one final run at the Bison cage. However, Wagner’s final shot was saved as Bucknell escaped with a one-goal win.
For Wagner, Bognolo (four), Connors (two) and senior Andrew Cowie (two) accounted for multi-goal games.
In the final game of the weekend for Wagner, the Seahawks capped off a 2-1 MAWPC weekend by doubling up Johns Hopkins.
Leading 4-0 in the first quarter with Conway in goal. Johns Hopkins first goal didn’t come until 4:31 left in the second quarter. With 2:13 remaining, Stanczewki completed a first half hat-trick as the Green & White acquired an 8-4 lead by halftime.
Chambers delivered a strike to begin the second half for Wagner and the Seahawks’ defense only allowed two points in the quarter to continue pulling away from the Blue Jays. In the fourth quarter, Connors scored his team high fourth tally of the contest to join Stanczewski (three), Bognolo (two), Chambers (two), Cowie (two) and Ray (two) in accounting for all of their team’s offense in turning back Johns Hopkins.
Information courtesy Wagner College Athletics Communications
