EMMITSBURG, Md. — The Mount St. Mary’s University men’s water polo won their first game in program history by defeating Mercyhurst University, 10-7, on the back end of a doubleheader at the Knott Athletic Recreation Convocation Complex (ARCC) Swimming Pool. Earlier in the day, the squad lost to Gannon University, 22-10, in the Mountaineers’ home debut.
In his first action with the Mount, Jason O’Donnell (Fr., Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada/John Abbott College) led the team with nine goals. Brock Cudahy (Gr., Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park) and Kacper Cieplik (Fr., Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada John Abbott College) earned their first goals as collegiate player, and Eli Thalos (Jr., Salt Lake City, Utah/University of the Pacific/West) and Jason Fitch (Fr., Middle River, Md./Calvert Hall) both registered their first official goals, having previously scored in exhibitions.
Following a 26-5 loss on January 23 in the program’s opening game versus Gannon, Mount St. Mary’s was ready for the rematch with the Golden Knights. O’Donnell scored three goals out of four, and the defense kept Gannon in check, leading to a 5-4 score in favor of the visitors by quarter’s end.
The tide turned in the second quarter when O’Donnell picked up his third exclusion with 3:32 in the half. His confinement to the bench inhibited the Mount after that, as Gannon scored 15 goals to the Mountaineers’ four the rest of the way for a 22-10 Golden Knights victory.
Goals by Cudahy, Marko Kruska (Jr., Belgrade, Serbia West Valley College) and Fitch closed the deficit down to six, but Gannon called a timeout to reset before tallying six unanswered to ice the game.
For the Golden Knights, Ethan Hamp (Sr., Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) led the way with five markers. Vladimir Mickic (So., Subotica, Serbia/Nikola Tesla) fired home four strikes, while Seth Johnson (So., Sugar Hill, Ga. Lanier) and Anthony Squeglia (Sr., Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) both pumped in hat-tricks. John Vieira (Jr., Erie, Pa./Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy (McDowell)) and Tim Baer (Sr., San Diego, Calif./Classical Academy) chipped in pairs with Marty Kaverman (So., Erie, Pa./McDowell), Thomas Koelling (Fr., St. Louis, Mo./Webster Groves) and Robert Bolmanski (Jr., Erie, Pa./McDowell) tacking on single scores.
In the late game, the Mount battled to a 3-3 tie against the Lakers by the conclusion of the first quarter, using goals by Cudahy, Cieplik and O’Donnell to draw level. Great defense by both sides kept the contest deadlocked at three going into halftime.
Mount St. Mary’s gained control of the opening possession and cashed in as Thalos scored with 7:40 remaining in the third quarter. He would put another shot home in an extra man opportunity a minute later at 6:40 to push the Mountaineers ahead 5-3. Derek Kagen (So., San Diego, Calif./Clairemont) and Nicholas Miller (Fr., St. Charles, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit) tied the game with consecutive strikes at 5:43 and 4:47 , respectively, but O’Donnell countered with a pair of goals at 4:28 and 2:57 to give the Mount a 7-5 lead.
Leading 8-6 entering the fourth quarter, the home team seized momentum by drawing a penalty shot, which O’Donnell finished off with ease at the 6:20 mark. Brennan Cumbey (Fr., Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) attempted to rally the Lakers to a comeback by depositing a man-up tally at 1:41 to move Mercyhurst within 9-7, but a final goal by Cieplik with 1:21 on the clock put the game out of reach.
O’Donnell led the way for the Mountaineers with four goals, while Cudahy, Thalos and Cieplik each registered pairs of scores.
For Mercyhurst, Kagen and Miller both found the back of the cage twice with Cumby and Luke Tanner (So., Cooper City, Fla. Cooper City High School) adding single tallies.
Information courtesy Mount St. Mary’s University Athletics Communications
