NORTON, MASS. — Mount St. Mary’s University took losses to Division III No. 10-ranked Augustana College, 18-6, and Division III No. 6 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 19-17, at Wheaton College’s Balfour Natatorium to conclude the 2023 Bruno Classic hosted by Wheaton, Brown University and Harvard University.
Eli Thalos (Gr., Salt Lake City, Utah/University of the Pacific) scored his 100th career goal with his first score against MIT in the Mount’s second game of the day.
Against Augustana, the Mount controlled the pace of the game in the first scoring two goals via six-on-five power plays to acquire a 2-1 lead. However, the Vikings clicked in the second quarter firing off seven goals to the Mount’s one and going into halftime leading 8-3. Augustana kept their foot on the gas out of the break to outscore the Mountaineers 5-1 and 5-3 in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, to pull away for an 18-6 win.
Aaron Tarr (Fr., Johannesburg, South Africa/Westville Boys) led the Mount offense with a pair of goals, while Alexandros Bellesis (So., Athens, Greece/Vouliagmeni Lyceum), Thalos and Chrysostomos Valavanis (So., Athens, Greece/Loenteio Lykeio Neas Smirnis) contributed solo markers.
Joseph Maxson (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Westminster) and Sherif Hosni (So., Cairo, Egypt/Hamilton Boys’) turned aside three and nine shots, respectively, in cage for the Mountaineers.
Taking on the Engineers of MIT, the teams came out firing as the squads were knotted at five-all after the opening quarter of action.
MIT pulled ahead by a 10-9 score prior to halftime, but the Mountaineers came out of the break on fire, sounding off several shots to balance the scoreboard at 15-all through three quarters of competition.
In a back-and-forth contest, the game came down to man-up chances as MIT cashed in on more of their extra man opportunities to outscore Mount St. Mary’s in the final eight minutes for a 19-17 win.
Tarr inflicted the most damage for Mount St. Mary’s with six strikes, while Bellesis, Thalos and Michael Lemishko (Jr., Wayne, Pa./Upper Merion) deposited pairs in support of a 10 save effort by Maxson.
Information courtesy Mount St. Mary’s University Athletics Communications
