Men's Water Polo Defeats Salem, Falls to Mercyhurst

Box Score (Mercyhurst)  |  Box Score (Salem)

ERIE, Pa.  – Andrew Opalewski and Brian Shapter each recorded a hat trick for their first goals of the season, helping the Penn State Behrend men’s water polo team collect their second win of the season. The Lions defeated Salem 10-8, but dropped the first game of the day to Mercyhurst, 14-6.

The 10 goals against Salem is one shy of the most scored in a game by the Lions this season. Behrend defeated Lindenwood 11-8 back on Sept. 5. Josh Sebrosky, Ali Khan and Nic Pabich also added two goals apiece.

In the nightcap, the Lions scored three goals in the first three minutes of the opening quarter. Sebrosky netted the first two in 1:21 and then Opalewski buried the ball into the left corner of the net for a 3-0 lead.

Seth Finch got Salem on the board 10 seconds later but Eric Pierce made it 4-1 just seconds before the end of the quarter with his third goal of the season.

Behrend increased its lead to 7-3 by halftime, getting two goals from Opalewski and one from Shapter.  Salem began the comeback in the second half and scored five unanswered goals to take their first lead off a goal by Finch with 3:49 left to play.

Shapter finished a goal off an assist from Max Hrbal to knot the game at 8-all and then put the Lions ahead for good with another tally off a pass from Pierce. The final goal belonged to Nick Loukides, firing a shot from far out with 1:31 showing on the clock.

In the first game, the Lakers never trailed Behrend taking a 3-1 lead heading into the second quarter. Brandon Horsch got the Lions on the scoreboard at the 1:30 mark off a pass from Colin McGarry.

Mercyhurst scored 23 seconds into the second quarter but on the next possession Behrend made three quick passes and Khan squared up with the net to collect the goal to make it 4-2. The Lions’ defense made good stops, including one on a breakaway at the 3:45 mark. The Lakers would get revenge and score 20 seconds later thanks to Adam Borgman.

Neither team found the back of the net in the first five minutes of the third quarter until Mercyhurst struck with 2:45 left for a 9-3 lead.

The Lions could not get any closer and added three more goals, two by Pabich.

Behrend returns to action tomorrow at Gannon. Game time is 2 p.m.