Box Score Erie, Pa – Mercyhurst Men's Water Polo falls to Gannon in the first game of CWPA DII Championships. Despite a great effort, the Golden Knights were able to defeat the Lakers in the tournament opener by a score of 16-8.
How It Happened
The beginning of the match saw a lot of physical play as both teams were determined to fired the opening salvo in the cross-town rivalry. The Lakers started strong as goals by Reed Bearden and Nate Cheney put Mercyhurst in the lead at 2-0.
However, Gannon didn't give up and thanks to a couple of good offensive possession won the first quarter, 5-3. The Golden Knighst kept applying pressure and extended their lead to four goals going into the break.
The Lakers started the second half with a lot of energy and determination. Cheered on by the fans in the Hallman Aquatic Center, Owen Hardner won the race-off and scored a goal, reducing the lead to three. Gannon answered right away, as Ben Fribourg put the ball in the Laker's goal.
Mercyhurst worked hard, but the Golden Knights kept extending the lead through the second half, eventually winning the game by a score of 16-8.
By The Numbers
The Lakers showcased a well-balanced offense, as they often shared the ball with no one player being held responsible for the entire production. All eight of their goals came from different players while Danilo Vujovic and Teagan Thomas led the team in assists with two each. Marty Kaverman led the Golden Knights with six goals and was followed by Drago Marjanovic and Alex Kotskar with two goals each.
What's Next
The Lakers are set to take on Salem on Saturday, October 22nd with the race-off scheduled for 3:40 p.m. at the Hallman Aquatic Center.
