Gannon-Notre Dame Video Highlights
Gannon-Mercyhurst Video Highlights

ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon men's water polo team finished second at the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division II Eastern Championship Saturday, falling in the championship match to Mercyhurst by a final score of 18-5. The Golden Knights earned a 14-12 win over Notre Dame (Ohio) earlier in the day to qualify for the championship match. 

In addition, Nathan Bean (Houston, Tx. / Cypress Creek), Daisuke Takagi (Tsukuba, Japan / Namiki) and Neal Zoellick (Homewood, Ill. / Homewood-Flossmoor) were all named to the Division II Eastern Championship All-Tournament team. 

Gannon opened the day by coming out on top of a closely contested match with Notre Dame (Ohio). The two teams were even in scoring during both the first and second quarters. Bean scored twice in the first quarter while Takagi netted two scores in the second as Gannon entered the break tied at eight with the Falcons. 

Notre Dame used a 2-1 edge in scoring in the third quarter to take a lead heading into the final eight minutes. Gannon's lone goal was scored by Bean. 

The Golden Knights exploded for five scores in the fourth quarter while holding the Falcons to just two. Tommy Nimrod (Glenview, Ill. / Glenbrook South) scored his only two goals of the match during the decisive frame. Takagi, Cody Sherman (Erie, Pa. / McDowell) and Adam Wolf (Worthington, Ohio / Thomas Worthington) accounted for the rest of Gannon's scoring in the fourth. 

Zoellick finished with 12 blocks in the contest. Takagi led the way with four scores, six assists and five steals. Bean totaled three scores. 

Unfortunately, Gannon was unable to carry over the momentum from the win into the championship match. The Golden Knights fell behind 4-0 after the first quarter only to see the Lakers extend the lead with six goals in the second quarter, holding a 10-0 lead at the break.

Gannon managed four scores in the third quarter and one in the fourth, but were outscored by the Lakers in each frame to fall by the 18-5 final. Nimrod was the only Golden Knight in the contest with multiple goals, scoring three. Zoellick turned away seven shots in the contest. 

The Golden Knights now stand at 8-8 this season following the 1-1 day Saturday. Next on the schedule for Gannon is the CWPA Southern Division Championship hosted by Bucknell November 2-4. 

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Gannon Men's Water Polo Box Score
Gannon vs. Notre Dame (Ohio)
Saturday, October 27, 2012