WASHINGTON, Pa. — In their closest match up of the season, the Golden Knights of Gannon University escaped Salem University, 17-14, to conclude the opening weekend of Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)-West Region play. Three players scored three goals each for Gannon. Jacob Hollo (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) made 18 saves in goal to set a new career-high.
Gannon came alive in the first half of play scoring 11 goals in the first two quarters, including the first four goals of the game.
Anthony Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), Robert Bolmanski (Erie, Pa./McDowell), Riley Hinkley (Meshoppen, Pa./Princeton) and Jack Donnelly (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) all put one in the back of the net for the Knights in in the first half of the first quarter. Drago Marjanovic (Belgrade, Serbia/North Allegheny (Pa.)) added another before the first quarter ended to lead 5-3.
A six goal second quarter gave the Knights an 11-6 advantage. A goal from Thomas Squeglia (Sr., Erie, Pa./Cathedral Catholic) at the 5:22 mark sparked three straight goals for Gannon. A. Squeglia scored later at the 1:53 mark to lead Gannon on another three straight goals stretch.
The teams played evenly in the third quarter with four goals each. John Vieira (Erie, Pa/Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy (McDowell)) and Donnelly each scored one goal to start the scoring of the quarter. Lucas Petzold (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) scored back-to-back goals under the three minute mark.
Salem made a run in the final quarter outscoring the Knights 4-2. Gannon goals by A. Squeglia and Hinkley helped insure Gannon’s sixth straight win and second this season over Salem.
A. Squeglia led the Knights with a perfect shot percentage making all three for his attempts. He also assisted on three goals.
Donnelly filled the stat sheets with three goals, three assists, and one steal in Gannon’s win, while Hinkley was the third player to add three goals, which he made on four shots. He also tallied one steal.
Petzold, Bolmanski, Ethan Hamp (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben), T. Squeglia, and Marjanovic all added goals with T. Squeglia chipping in three assists and Bolmanski tacking on a pair of steals.
Hollo played all 32 minutes in goal for the Knights and added an assist and a steal along with his 18 saves.
Salem also had three players with three goals as Saequan Miller, Milos Popovic and Robert Juhas tallied trios. Juhas also added three assists and two steals.
Goalie Julen Alonso led the game with four steals and made nine saves in goal for Salem.
Release courtesy Gannon University Athletics Communications
