MONMOUTH, Ill. — The Golden Knights of Gannon University remain undefeated in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)-West Region action as the squad dealt with McKendree University, 20-16, and Mercyhurst University, 15-9, during a league tournament at Monmouth College. Thomas Squelgia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) and Ethan Hamp (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) scored seven goals each for the Knights.
Facing fellow Division II institution McKendree, Gannon poured in six goals in the first quarter to cage the Bearcats. T. Squeglia scored two of Gannon’s six and assisted on a goal by Riley Hinkley (Meshoppen, Pa./Princeton) to close the first quarter.
McKendree hung with Gannon through the first half. In the second quarter they opened play with two straight goals. Anthony Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), Hamp and Jack Donnelly (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) retaliated with three goals for Gannon. McKendree managed three more goals in the quarter to trail Gannon 11-7 at the half.
The Knights erupted for seven goals in the third quarter to pull away from their opponent. Hinkley got a pair of goals for himself, while T. Squelgia scored back-to-back. The Knights were held to just two scores in the fourth but held on for the win.
Facing the Division II Lakers of Mercyhurst, the Golden Knights dominated the first half of the game to hold an 8-3 lead.
Hamp and Bolmanski combined for five of Gannon’s eight goals. Bolmanski scored just after A. Squelgia’s game opening goal and then again in the final minute of the first quarter. He added his third goal of the first half with 2:42 left on the clock.
Hinkley scored Gannon’s opening goal in the second half, which was his only goal in the game. Tim Baer (San Diego, Calif./Classical Academy) and Drago Marjanovic (Belgrade, Serbia/North Allegheny (Pa.)) also got on the board for the first time in the third quarter.
Mercyhurst closed the gap trailing by just four goals into the fourth quarter. Gannon held off the Lakers by outscoring them 4-2 in the final eight minutes.
Hamp scored Gannon’s final two goals of the game. One came at the 1:12 mark and then the final with just 42 seconds left on the clock.
Both Hamp and T. Squelgia finished the day with six goals and one assist each. Hamp recorded a .857 shot percentage as he scored his sic goals on seven shots. T. Squelgia took 11 shots.
Hinkley added five goals on a team-high 16 shots, while Bolmanski also scored five goals.
Marjanovic scored five goals for the Knights and recorded a team-best five assists. He also made two steals over the two games.
Jack Donnelly (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral), Baer, and A. Squeglia each scored two goals. Squelgia tallied a team-high three steals.
Lucas Petzold (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville), John Vieira (Erie, Pa/Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy (McDowell)) and Marty Kaverman (Erie, Pa./McDowell) each added one goal.
Jacob Hollo (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) logged all 64 minutes in goal for the Knights and made 28 saves on the day.
Release courtesy Gannon University Athletics Communications
