Seniors Gilberto Millan (left), Nick Williams (center) and Evan Wujcik (right) were honored prior to Saturday's match against McKendree as part of Senior Night.

Men's Water Polo 10/14/2017 10:34:00 PM Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Gannon Men's Water Polo Team Goes Undefeated on First Day of D2 Championships (Video)

THE RUNDOWN

Match One Score: at Gannon 15, Salem International 11
Match Two Score: at Gannon 15, McKendree (Ill.) 7
Records: Gannon (9-6), Salem International (6-10), McKendree (4-13)
Location: Erie, Pa. - Carneval Athletic Pavilion Pool
The Short Story: The Gannon men's water polo team posted a consistent 15 goals twice and swept a pair of matches while hosting the Division II Championships Saturday at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion Pool. The Golden Knights opened the day with a 15-11 victory against Salem International, before disposing of McKendree (Ill.) 15-7.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER

Gannon-Salem International Match
- Box Score: Click Here
- Video Highlights: Click Here
- Webcast Replay: Click Here
Mercyhurst-McKendree (Ill.) Match (Mercyhurst won 13-10)
- Box Score: Click Here
- Webcast Replay: Click Here
Gannon-McKendree (Ill.) Match
- Box Score: Click Here
- Video Highlights: Click Here
- Webcast Replay: Click Here
Mercyhurst-Salem International Match (Salem International won 12-10)
- Box Score: Click Here
- Webcast Replay: Click Here

HOW IT HAPPENED - MATCH ONE

Salem International produced the first surge to grab a 2-1 lead during the opening six minutes.
Senior Gilberto Millan (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico/Colegio San Jose) scored the tying goal with 46 seconds left in the first quarter to end the first stanza deadlocked at two.
Gannon kicked off the second frame with back-to-back goals from freshman Tony Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep). The three-goal run pushed the Golden Knights in front 4-2 with 5:25 left in the first half.
Salem International responded with a pair of its own goals to tie the score, but Gannon immediately countered with the final four scores of the half to race into halftime with an 8-4 advantage. Millan and freshman Tim Baer (San Diego, Calif./Classical Academy) started the run with goals. Sophomore Jack Donnelly (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) then found the back of the net 40 seconds apart with under two minutes left.
The visitors tried to rally at the beginning of the third period with back-to-back tallies during the opening 90 seconds, cutting the deficit to 8-6.
Once again, Gannon counterpunched with three straight goals from senior Nick Williams (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge Island), redshirt junior Jake Rehrer (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) and Donnelly. The third score gave the Golden Knights an 11-6 edge midway through the third stanza.
Salem International had one last run in it. The Tigers had yet another 3-0 run, including one with eight seconds left on the clock to cut the deficit to 11-9 after three quarters.
Gannon eventually pulled away at the beginning of the final quarter though. Millan, sophomore Thomas Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) and Rehrer generated scores during the opening two minutes and 12 seconds to give the home squad a 14-9 lead.
The Tigers managed two of the final three goals, before Gannon secured a 15-11 victory.

MATCH NOTES

Millan, Williams and Donnelly led the Gannon scoring attack with hat tricks.
Jake Rehrer (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) and Tony Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) added two goals each.
Baer and Thomas Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) completed the scoring with one score apiece.
Junior Brett Rehrer (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) had 16 saves and three assists while picking up the victory between the pipes.
Salem International out-shot Gannon 39-35 and out-scored the Golden Knights 3-0 in power play goals.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

Gannon won its seventh consecutive match after starting the season 1-6.
Donnelly tied his season-high in scoring with his third hat trick of the campaign.
Millan generated his third consecutive hat trick and fifth of the season.
Williams also produced his third consecutive hat trick with his eighth of the year.
Rehrer's 16 saves represented his fourth-highest total of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED - MATCH TWO

Gannon took control early with the first three goals of the match. Thomas Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), junior Zarko Sadikovic (Nis, Serbia/GTS Neimar) and Millan found the back of the net during the opening run.
McKendree was able to stop the momentum for the time being with two of the final three scores of the first quarter, slicing the deficit to 4-2.
After the two squads split the first two goals of the second quarter, Gannon ripped off the final three tallies of the first half. Millan, sophomore Riley Hinkley (Meshoppen, Pa./Princeton) and Sadikovic accounted for the run that gave the Golden Knights a 7-3 edge at the intermission.
Head coach Sean Morphy's club put the match on ice during third quarter, shutting out the Bearcats 5-0. In all, an 8-0 run that started at the 4:37 mark of the second quarter and extended into the fourth quarter gave Gannon a 12-3 advantage.
McKendree finally snapped the scoreless drought 1:54 into the fourth quarter. The Bearcats were held without a goal by the Gannon defense for 15 minutes and two seconds until the score.
The two teams played on even terms during the final eight minutes. McKendree held a slight 4-3 scoring edge during the fourth quarter, before Gannon settled for a 15-7 victory.

MATCH NOTES

Williams led both sides in scoring with five goals.
Millan and Sadikovic added hat tricks with Millan also recording a team-high four steals and two assists.
Donnelly, sophomore Vladimir Diaz (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Cupeyville), Thomas Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) and Hinkley produced one score each.
Brett Rehrer (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) made 10 saves and had four assists during three quarters in goal.
Freshman Nate Winkler (Southlake, Texas/Carroll Independent School District) turned away two shots while protecting the net during the fourth quarter.
Gannon out-shot McKendree 28-25.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

Millan, Williams and Wujcik were honored prior to the match as part of Senior Night festivities.
Gannon won its eighth consecutive match after starting the season 1-6.
The Golden Knights have generated an eight-match win streak for the second consecutive season.
Williams tied his season-high in scoring while producing his fourth consecutive hat trick. He now has nine hat tricks this year.
Millan scored at least three goals for the fourth consecutive match and sixth time in 2017.
Sadikovic had a hat trick next to his name for the fifth time this season.
Rehrer reached double digits in saves for the 11th time this year.

UP NEXT

The Division II Championships conclude Sunday, October 15 at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion.
The opening match features Salem International and McKendree at 10 a.m.
Gannon and Mercyhurst follow at 11:30 a.m.
The Golden Knights can win its first Division II Championship since 2014 with a victory against the Lakers.
Live video webcasts will be available for both matches at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/gannon.
Live gameday statistics will be available for the Gannon-Mercyhurst match at http://www.thefosh.net/livestats.php?gameid=3218.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Vladimir Diaz: Sophomore; General Studies

#3 Jack Donnelly: Sophomore; Physician Assistant

#16 Riley Hinkley: Sophomore; Mortuary Science

#7 Gilberto Millan: Senior; Business

#1 Brett Rehrer: Junior; Supply Chain Management/Sports Management and Marketing

#2 Jake Rehrer: Redshirt Junior; Criminal Justice

#5 Zarko Sadikovic: Redshirt Junior; Entrepreneurship and Marketing

#13 Thomas Squeglia: Sophomore; Finance

#11 Nick Williams: Senior; Mechanical Engineering

#10 Tim Baer: Freshman; Nursing

Players Mentioned

#6 Vladimir Diaz
: Sophomore; General Studies

#3 Jack Donnelly
: Sophomore; Physician Assistant

#16 Riley Hinkley
: Sophomore; Mortuary Science

#7 Gilberto Millan
: Senior; Business

#1 Brett Rehrer
: Junior; Supply Chain Management/Sports Management and Marketing

#2 Jake Rehrer
: Redshirt Junior; Criminal Justice

#5 Zarko Sadikovic
: Redshirt Junior; Entrepreneurship and Marketing

#13 Thomas Squeglia
: Sophomore; Finance

#11 Nick Williams
: Senior; Mechanical Engineering

#10 Tim Baer
: Freshman; Nursing

Gannon University Athletics

Scoreboard

Gannon Men's Water Polo Team Goes Undefeated on First Day of D2 Championships (Video)

Players Mentioned

#6 Vladimir Diaz

#3 Jack Donnelly

#16 Riley Hinkley

#7 Gilberto Millan

#1 Brett Rehrer

#2 Jake Rehrer

#5 Zarko Sadikovic

#13 Thomas Squeglia

#11 Nick Williams

#10 Tim Baer

Players Mentioned

#6 Vladimir Diaz

#3 Jack Donnelly

#16 Riley Hinkley

#7 Gilberto Millan

#1 Brett Rehrer

#2 Jake Rehrer

#5 Zarko Sadikovic

#13 Thomas Squeglia

#11 Nick Williams

#10 Tim Baer