BRIDGEPORT, W. Va. — The Mercyhurst University women’s water polo team dropped matches to host Salem University, 18-4, and Gannon University, 19-7, on the second day of the 2026 Salem Invitational hosted at the Bridge Sports Complex.
Facing the host Tigers, the Lakers were unable to stop Salem.
The hosts scored four goals to push ahead 4-0 following the first eight minutes of action.
In the second quarter, the Tigers continued to pour on the offense with five more goals to acquire a 9-0 margin at the contest’s midway point.
Freshman Bailey Dunn got on the board for the Lakers, narrowing the deficit to eight. Just two minutes later, the Tigers were able to push their lead back up to nine. Fifth year Alexa Corrao scored a goal and Dunn her second of the game to trim the Lakers’ deficit down to seven.
The Tigers respond with a goal 20 seconds later to push their lead back to eight before notching a pair to inflate the margin to 10.. Freshman Adriana Boltes Moragues halted the Tigers’ scoring run with a goal of her own as Mercyhurst moved within 13-4 by the conclusion of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Salem went on a 5-0 run to complete its 18-4 victory.
Facing crosstown nemesis Gannon, the Lakers were unable to keep pace as the Golden Knights built a 4-0 lead by the conclusion of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Golden Knights inflate their lead to 5-0. Sophomore Victoria Mastrangelo put the Lakers on the scoreboard, but Gannon punched in the final four goals of the first half to inflate its lead to 9-1 heading into halftime.
Dunn struck for a goal in the third quarter and senior Krista Domaracki swished another shot to narrow Gannons lead to 9-3. Dunn scored yet another goal for the Lakers, her second in the game and fourth on the day, but the Golden Knights netted three more goals to hold a 13-4 margin going into the fourth quarter.
Junior Marley Hanlon got on the scoreboard within the first 20 seconds of the fourth quarter to chip the Lakers’ deficit down to 13-5. However, the Golden Knights scored four consecutive goals prior to senior Eva Henneman snapping the run. Gannon scored back-to-back goals, before Henneman tallied her second of the game to close out Mercyhurst’s offense in a 19-7 loss.
Information courtesy Mercyhurst University Athletics Communications
