LEWISBURG, Pa. — The Wagner College men’s water polo team completed the first day at the Bison Invitational on the campus of Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)-East Region rival Bucknell University with a pair of wins. The Seahawks defeated Salem University, 19-13, and the host/No. 15-ranked Bison, 14-11.
Facing Division II Salem, the Tigers and Seahawks battled to a three-all deadlock in the opening eight minutes of competition. The Seahawks pulled away in the second quarter with a 4-0 run and Salem never recovered as Wagner took an 8-6 lead into the break. Junior Oliver Fodor and sophomore Zsombor Gyemant tallied two goals apiece in the first half.
The second half opened at a rapid pace as both teams traded goals, Fodor completed a hat trick in the third quarter alone and fifth-year Jack Leighton scored twice to bring his game total to four.
The third quarter ended with Wagner holding a 13-9 lead before the team opened the fourth quarter with a 4-0 run fueled by goals from freshman Mattia Bognolo, Fodor, Leighton and freshman Kyle Chambers who scored the first in his Wagner career.
Leading 17-9, the Seahawks rolled on to claim a 19-13 win.
Fodor finished with six goals and Leighton finished with five in the victory over the Tigers.
Facing defending MAWPC Champion Bucknell, Wagner got off on the right foot to begin MAWPC-East Region play by downing the Bison for the second time in program history. It marks the first regular season win for the Seahawks versus the Bison as Wagner downed Bucknell by a 10-8 count on November 18, 2017, in the semifinals of the MAWPC Championship hosted by the United States Naval Academy.
Seven different goal scorers contributed for Wagner, anchored by Fodor who netted five. Fodor, who also drew seven exclusions for Wagner, has now score five more more goals six times in 2021. Gyemant netted a goal of his own and contributed five assists.
The difference for the Green & White was a second quarter scoring outburst.
After the first frame ended deadlocked at four-all, Wagner outscored the Bison to carry a 9-5 lead into halftime.
The Bison outscored Wagner by a 6-5 count in the 16 minutes of the second half, but the Seahawks refused to squander their lead and held on for the win.
Information courtesy Wagner College Athletics Communications
