Breelyn Craig, McKendree Sports Information

Men's Water Polo 10/23/2021 11:09:00 PM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon to Play Salem in CWPA Division II Championship after Pair of Wins on Saturday

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's water polo team won its first two games in the CWPA Division II Championships on Saturday, clinching a berth in the title match on Sunday. Head coach Shane Unger's Golden Knights are in search of their fourth straight CWPA crown. The number two seed entering the tournament, they opened the day with a 13-11 upset of top-seed McKendree, then handed local rival Mercyhurst, the fourth seed, a 14-9 defeat in the evening while playing at Cathedral Prep's Hallman Aquatics Center.

All of Saturday's matches were played with seven-minute quarters, but there was still plenty of scoring. After playing Mercyhurst at 8:50 p.m., Gannon, now 9-8, was originally scheduled to face Salem at 9 a.m., but with the third place and championship contests already set, the Golden Knights will now play just once on Sunday, facing Salem for the 2021 title at 12 noon. Mercyhurst and McKendree square off at 10:30 a.m. with third place on the line. Both Gannon and Salem are 2-0, while McKendree and Mercyhurst went 0-2. Gannon and Salem split two earlier games.

GANNON 13, McKENDREE 11
The two split earlier matches, but Gannon would use a run of six straight goals in the second quarter to put away the Bearcats. Tied at 3-3 after one period, Gannon scored the first six goals of the second quarter in a span of just over five minutes to grab a 9-3 lead. Robert Bolmanski (Fairview, Pa./McDowell), who would contribute five goals and two assists in the contest, opened the run at the 6:20 mark, assisted by Tony Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep). Twenty-three seconds later, David Gallion (Arlington, Va./Homeschool) scored following a turnover. Bolmanski would score again, assisted by Drago Marjanovic (Belgrade, Serbia/North Allegheny (Pa.)), at 4:20 to make it 6-3, and then Marjanovic scored off a pass from goalie Jacob Hollo (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny). Vladimir Mickic (Subotica, Serbia/Nikola Tesla) scored the next two goals to make the score 9-3 with 2:13 left in the quarter. McKendree scored two straight goals, but Bolmanski and John Vieira (Erie, Pa/Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy (McDowell)) tallied goals in the final minute as Gannon led 11-5 at the half. The Bearcats closed the gap to 11-7 with a pair of goals, but Squeglia's goal at 1:58 built the lead back to five goals at 12-7. It would be 12-8 after three periods. Bolmanski would account for Gannon's lone goal in the fourth, but McKendree would get no closer than the final score of 13-11. In addition to Bolmanski, Squeglia contributed two goals and four assists, Marjanovic had two goals and three assists, with Mickic scoring twice, as well. Hollo and Alvaro Marco (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset) split time in goal, with Hollo recording seven saves in the first half, and Alvaro nine in the second.

GANNON 14, MERCYHURST 9
In the regular season meeting between the two local rivals, Gannon prevailed 8-1. While the postseason meeting was closer, Gannon received goals from six different players to improve to 9-8 and advance to the championship game. The Golden Knights would grab a 5-1 lead after one period, and extend the lead to 6-1 on a goal by Bolmanski at the 4:25 mark of the second quarter. Mercyhurst scored twice to close the gap to 6-3, but GU answered with Marjanovic and Seth Johnson (Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier) goals boosted the lead back to 8-3. A late Mercyhurst goal made it 8-4 at the half. The Lakers actually opened the second half with a pair of goals to pull to within 8-6, but the next three balls to find the back of the cage were by Gannon. Marjanovic scored the first two, and Squeglia had the led as the lead grew to 11-6. Leading 11-7 after three quarters, Gannon outscored the Lakers 3-2 in the final period. Ethan Hamp (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) accounted for two of those goals. Squeglia paced Gannon with four goals and an assist, while Marjanovic had three goals and two assists and Hamp three goals and one assist. Bolmanski tallied a pair of goals, with Gallion and Johnson scoring one apiece. Alvaro played 21 minutes in goal, with four saves, while Hollo picked up five saves in seven minutes.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Vladimir Mickic: C; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#8 Robert Bolmanski: Senior; Biology

#6 David Gallion: Senior; Mechanical Engineering

#12 Ethan Hamp: Redshirt Senior; Criminal Justice

#1 Jacob Hollo: 6' 1"; Junior

#7 Seth Johnson: 6' 3"; Junior

#18 Drago Marjanovic: 5' 11"; Senior; Business

#9 Tony Squeglia: Redshirt Senior; Criminal Justice

#10 John Vieira: Senior; Pre-Medicine

#1 Alvaro Marco: Freshman

Players Mentioned

#6 Vladimir Mickic
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: C

#8 Robert Bolmanski
: Senior; Biology

#6 David Gallion
: Senior; Mechanical Engineering

#12 Ethan Hamp
: Redshirt Senior; Criminal Justice

#1 Jacob Hollo
: 6' 1"; Junior

#7 Seth Johnson
: 6' 3"; Junior

#18 Drago Marjanovic
: 5' 11"; Senior; Business

#9 Tony Squeglia
: Redshirt Senior; Criminal Justice

#10 John Vieira
: Senior; Pre-Medicine

#1 Alvaro Marco
: Freshman

Gannon University Athletics

Scoreboard

Gannon to Play Salem in CWPA Division II Championship after Pair of Wins on Saturday

Players Mentioned

#6 Vladimir Mickic

#8 Robert Bolmanski

#6 David Gallion

#12 Ethan Hamp

#1 Jacob Hollo

#7 Seth Johnson

#18 Drago Marjanovic

#9 Tony Squeglia

#10 John Vieira

#1 Alvaro Marco

Players Mentioned

#6 Vladimir Mickic

#8 Robert Bolmanski

#6 David Gallion

#12 Ethan Hamp

#1 Jacob Hollo

#7 Seth Johnson

#18 Drago Marjanovic

#9 Tony Squeglia

#10 John Vieira

#1 Alvaro Marco