BRIDGEPORT, W. Va. — The Mercyhurst University men’s water polo team dropped games against Division III No. 4-ranked Johns Hopkins University, 21-6, and host Salem University, 23-10, at the Bridge Sports Complex on the first day of the 2026 Salem Invitational.
Facing Johns Hopkins, the Blue Jays opened up a four goal lead before Ben Gavran scored for the Lakers off a pass from Asher Jones. Hopkins scored two more goals to end the quarter with a five goal lead.
Within the first minute of the second quarter, Johns Hopkins posted a power-play marker to extend its lead to six goals. Petar Vujovic responded for the Lakers 15 seconds later courtesy an assist by Cooper Venneman. Vujovic continued the offense for the Lakers, scoring his second goal of the game via an assist by Mason Grzybowski. However, Johns Hopkins proceeded to score two more goals acquire a 9-3 goal lead heading into halftime..
Johns Hopkins put the game away in the third quarter with a six tally run to push ahead 15-3 before the commencement of the fourth quarter.
The Blue Jays notched three goals within the first two minutes of the quarter to continue pulling away from the Lakers. Vujovic scored another goal to completed a hat-trick before JHU responded Gavran scored his second goal of the game for the Lakers Johns Hopkins deposited a pair of tallies and Vujovic netted his fourth goal of the game to wrap-up a 21-6 contest.
Taking on the host Tigers in their home water, Mercyhurst was unable to match Salem as the home team opened up the quarter with a power-play goal to take an early 1-0 lead. Jones finished a feed from Vujovic to even the damage prior to Salem responding with five goals to push ahead. Caden Stover found the back of net to narrow the Lakers’ deficit to four prior to the Tigers torquing in another strike with under 10 seconds left in the opening eight minutes. Mercyhurst got the goal back prior to the horn as Vujovic stroked in a a penalty shot to move Mercyhurst within 7-3.
In the second quarter, Vujovic scored to help keep his squad in the match. Vujovic lined in a man-up goal to complete his second hat-trick on the day. However, Salem stuffed in five goals to extend its lead to seven scores. Declan Puacz found Jones with a response prior to halftime as the Lakers entered the back trailing by a 12-6 count.
Puacz converted another power-play chance for the Lakers to begin the third quarter. The Tigers answered with a penalty shot before pumping in back-to-back goals to further extend their lead. Mercyhurst scored back-to-back of their own with the first goal coming from Peter Bodoki and the second courtesy Constantine Romanov to inch within 15-9 prior to the fourth quarter..
Salem started the fourth quarter with back-to-back markers to close out the game. Vujovic delivered for the Lakers by finding the back of net for the fourth time prior to Salem racking up six additional strikes to seal a 23-10 victory.
Information courtesy Mercyhurst University Athletics Communications
