LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's water polo team advanced to the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern Championship game with two wins Saturday. The Lakers also secured a top two seed at the CWPA Eastern Championship in two weeks.
 
Coach Curtis Robinette's squad upset third-seeded Johns Hopkins on Friday, already one of the biggest wins in program history. The Lakers needed only a victory over Salem International to earn the program's first-ever berth in Easterns. Mercyhurst handled the Tigers, 19-7, as Brett Luehmann posted two goals and two assists.
 
The Lakers moved on to play Princeton in the Southern semifinals. Playing the #18 Tigers, Mercyhurst went in playing at a high level. Princeton led, 7-6, at halftime, and then 10-7 midway through the third quarter. Garret Schoeman began the Mercyhurst rally with a score with just five seconds to go in the third.
 
Luehmann made it 10-9 early in the fourth period. On the next possession, Schoeman evened the score at 10. Isaac Ogloblin found the back of the net on the Lakers' next possession, capping a 65-second spurt that put the Lakers on top. The Tigers answered with a tying score with 3:34 left on the clock. James Owen tallied the game-winner at the 2:13 mark and Mercyhurst held on for the biggest win in program history.
 
With the victory, the Lakers advanced to the Southern Championship game, facing host and fourth-seeded Bucknell at 2 p.m. It is Mercyhurst's first appearance in the title match. Regardless of result, the Lakers will receive a top two seed at the CWPA Eastern Championship November 16-17. That tournament is hosted by Princeton.
 
The Lakers are 21-5 in 2012, marking their most successful season in program history.
 
Against Salem, Luehmann had two goals and two assists. Colin McDonald scored twice, as did Ogloblin and Tye Schreiber. Blake Stabler made 12 saves in net.
 
In the win over Princeton, Schoeman totaled four goals, five assists, and four steals. Ogloblin had two goals, three assists, and two steals, while Luehmann recorded two goals and four steals. Matt Cote compiled 10 saves in goal.

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