CLAREMONT, Calif. — The Mount St. Mary’s University men’s water polo team fell twice on the final day of the 2023 Gary Troyer Tournament by dropping a 20-8 decision to the United States Air Force Academy at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges’ Haldeman Pool and a 17-13 outcome versus Biola University at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges’ Axelrood Pool .
Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield recorded the first hat trick of his Mount St. Mary’s career, tallying three goals in the Biola game. Alexandros Bellesis finished the Air Force contest with seven points, divided into five goals and two assists.
Mount St. Mary’s battled with Air Force to a three-all tie in the first quarter before the Falcons scored two more times prior to the conclusion of the eight-minute stretch. The teams combined for seven goals in the second quarter as Air Force jumped ahead 12-7 at the break and limited the Mount to one second half goal on the way to a 12-score win.
Against Biola, the Mountaineers rallied from trailing 11-6 at halftime with a furious third quarter effort. Chrysostomos Valavanis scored two of his team-high four goals to go along with scores from Eli Thalos and Bellesis, pulling the Mount within one. Aaron Tarr scored on a power play to start the fourth and force a tie, but Biola finished with six of the last eight goals to earn the victory.
Release courtesy Mount St. Mary’s University Athletics Communications
