ERIE, Pa. — Mount St. Mary’s University claimed a 20-17 defeat of Penn State Behrend prior to picking up a 24-8 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) victory versus host Mercyhurst University on the final day of the Laker Invitational at the Hallman Aquatics Center. The Mount’s record for the season is now 6-8.
It was a whole team effort today during both games as many players were able to record at least one goal in either game. Leaders were Aleksandar Radosavljevic and Luka Urosevic. Radosavljevic scored a total of 12 goals, six in each contest, while Urosevic scored a total of ten, four in the game against the Lions and six versus the Lakers. Three players scored their first goals of the season as Israel Bratton, Ivan Morales and AJ Waldfogel posted their inaugural strikes.
In the first quarter of the game against Penn State Behrend, Radosavljevic started the scoresheet for the Mount, followed by one goal from Urosevic and another by Darrion Phelps to tie the Lions at three-all. Radosavljevic, Matias Miranda, Will Matthews and Max Economy notched second quarter tallies as the Mount entered halftime down 9-7.
Mount St. Mary’s flipped the script in the second half by posting eight and five goals in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, to rally for a 20-17 win.
In the third quarter, Nathan Valentine found the back of the net to start the Mountaineers’ rally with Radosavljevic (three), Urosevic (two), Matthews and Phelps also finding the back twine.
Leading 15-13 heading into the fourth quarter, Matthews, Radosavljevic, Urosevic, Bratton and Aaron Tarr connected on scoring chances to help their team tame the Lions.
Goalies Milan Miskolczi, Matthew Royer and Linc Smith all received playing time in a goalkeeper by committee contest.
Meeting Mercyhurst in a MAWPC showdown, the Mount started off strong with six goals scored compared to two coming from the Lakers in the first quarter.
Urosevic accounted for a pair before Radosavljevic notched a solo marker. Urosevic completed a hat-trick prior to Jack Fox and Bratton swishing shots to acquire a 6-2 margin through eight minutes of competition..
Matthews found the back of the net to start the second quarter before Radosavljevic (two), Phelps, Giannis Skliras and Morales’ cushioned the lead to 12-4 entering halftime.
The Mountaineers added 12 additional goals in the second half as the team accounted for four and eight tallies in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
Urosevic, Radosavljevic (two) and Tarr inflicted the third quarter damage prior to Radosavljevic, Urosevic (two), Tarr, Giacomo Graff, Waldfogel, Skliras and Fox wrapping up the win with an 8-0 scoring advantage during the final eight minutes of regulation.
Miskolczi served as goalie in the win and handed out a pair of assists.
Information courtesy Mount St. Mary’s University Athletics Communications
