ERIE, Pa. - Thanks to a pair of victories over Monmouth College and Penn State Behrend on Saturday, the Mercyhurst University men's water polo team extended its winning streak to seven games and, more importantly, clinched the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern Division West Region regular season title. The Lakers defeated Monmouth, 14-7, to open play on Saturday and then knocked off Penn State Behrend, 9-7, on Saturday night to improve to 7-4 overall and finished with a perfect 5-0 mark in conference action.

In the opener against the Fighting Scots at the Mercyhurst North East Aquatic Center, senior Dave Matulis paced the attack with six goals. Freshmen Connor Schmitz and Matt Bachler added a pair of goals each while senior Jordan Hodur, who had the game-winner against Gannon on Friday night, joined junior Jack Howe, freshman Noah Ratliff, and junior Joey Ryan with solo markers.

Junior goalkeeper Andrew Too-A-Foo had eight saves, six steals, and an assist.

In the nightcap at Penn State Behrend, Mercyhurst led 7-3 at halftime before the Lions outscored the Lakers, 3-0, in the third quarter to cut the deficit to one. But, the Lakers held on, scoring two of the three goals in the final quarter to secure the top spot in the conference.

Hodur, Bachler, and freshman Alec Diaz each scored twice while rookies Ivan Ariza, Philip Jenny, and Schmitz each scored a single tally.

Sophomore goalkeeper Gene Bilbao got the call in goal and turned aside ten shots in the victory.

Mercyhurst returns to action on Saturday, October 17 when it travels to Salem, West Virginia, for the CWPA Division II Championship. The Lakers will play Gannon at 3:00 p.m. followed by a match against Salem International at 7:00 p.m.