CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Wagner College men’s water polo team opened the 2023 season by defeating Division III No. 6-ranked the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 11-10, and McKendree University, 17-8, while taking setbacks against No. 18 Harvard University, 13-3, and No. 11 Pepperdine University 15-7, in four games at the Bruno Classic hosted at Harvard University over the weekend.
On Saturday, September 2, senior Zsombor Gyemant scored the first goal of Wagner’s season just 29 seconds into the game to start the Seahawks’ scoring versus MIT. The Seahawks ended their first quarter with a touch shot from Eliot Alvarez to put the Green & White up 2-1. Sophomore Laszlo Strasser, junior Andrew Cowie and junior Luis Camino Sosa all scored their first goals of the season in the second quarter. Wagner and MIT traded goals during the second quarter, with the Seahawks down 6-5 at halftime.
Both Wagner and MIT scored one goal in the third quarter, with Strasser finding his second goal of the game with 1:41 left in the frame. In the final eight minutes, Wagner outscored MIT 5-3 to come away with a one-goal come-from-behind victory. Junior Kyle Chambers and senior Barnabas Vidovics both netted two goals in the fourth to tie the game, while Strasser nailed the game-winner with 21 seconds left in regulation for his third goal of the contest.
Taking on the host Crimson of Harvard, Strasser scored Wagner’s first goal of the game with just over one minute in the first frame. The Seahawks found the back of the net twice in the second half. Cowie scored the Seahawks’ second goal of the game just 1:03 into the third quarter. Junior Kristian Stanczewski delivered for the first time of the young season as he accounted for the Green & White’s third goal with 1:24 left in the game.
Wagner returned to the pool on Sunday, September 3, to claim its second win of the season versus McKendree.
Senior Ryan Lanier produced a hat-trick in the first quarter, with his last coming with eight second left in the opening frame. Strasser and freshman Vince Varga pushed the Seahawks out to a 5-4 margin after one quarter of competition. The Green & White extended their lead to 8-5 going into half with Strasser, Vidovics and junior Angelo Zaina all adding tallies.
The third quarter saw Wagner score five goals to McKendree’s two. Gyemant was responsible for a pair of Wagner’s scores during the frame, Chambers and Strasser added to the wealth with their own goals, and junior Mattia Bognolo found the back of the net for the Seahawks.
The final quarter saw more of the same with the Seahawks scoring four goals to McKendree’s one. Four different Seahawks got involved as Zaina, Varga, Stanczewski, and freshman Maayan Nahari dented the twine.
In the team’s weekend finale, Wagner led Pepperdine by a 2-1 score after one quarter of competition as Strasser and Nahari each found the back of the net. Stasser and Nahari were not done as they both netted a goal in the second, with Strasser adding two in that second frame as the Seahawks entered the midway point with a 5-4 lead.
The scoreboard advantage did not last, however, as the Waves outscored Wagner 11-2 over the final 16 minutes.
For the Seahawks, Chambers scored his first of the contest with 6:10 remaining in the third frame. Vidovics also accounted for a solo strike as he rifled in a shot during the fourth quarter.
Information courtesy Wagner College Athletics Communications
