Scoreboard

Men's Water Polo 11/6/2021 10:44:00 PM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Marjanovic Leads Gannon into Mid-Atlantic Western Division Championship Game with 18-11 Triumph over Salem

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Drago Marjanovic (Belgrade, Serbia/North Allegheny (Pa.)) scored four goals and assisted on seven others as the Gannon men's water polo team advanced to the championship game of the Mid-Atlantic Western Region Championship with an 18-11 win over Salem on Saturday afternoon at the Mylan Park Aquatics Center.

The contest was a rematch of the CWPA Division II Championships title game, won by Gannon 14-9. In fact, it was the fourth meeting of the year between the two, with Gannon, the second seed in the tournament, now winning three of four. The Golden Knights have now won five games in a row to improve to 12-8 on the season.

Gannon will take to the pool on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in the championship game, facing another familiar opponent in McKendree. McKendree is the top seed and moved into the final with a win over Mercyhurst. The winner of that contest advances to the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Championship in two weeks at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

The Golden Knights were tied with Salem at 3-3 after one quarter, but the second period proved decisive for the Golden Knights. They would outscore the Tigers 6-2 to take a 9-5 lead into halftime. In fact, Gannon trailed 3-1 with two minutes left in the opening period, but Marjanovic and Ethan Hamp (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) goals knotted the game at 3-3 after one period.

Gannon would score the first five goals of the second period to make it seven straight goals. The lead grew to 8-3 on a goal by Tony Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), assisted by Marjanovic. Dylan Schmitzerle (Richmond, Va.) scored twice in the run.

Salem closed the gap to two goals at 12-10 after three quarters, outscoring Gannon 5-3 in the first eight minutes after halftime. Gannon responded with the next three goals to boost the lead back up to 15-10. All came less than a minute apart. Hamp accounted for the first at the 6:26 mark of the final period, assisted by Schmitzerle. At 5:48, Vlad Mickic (Subotica, Serbia /Nikola Tesla) found the back of the cage off a pass from Marjanovic. Just 16 seconds later, Schmitzerle took a feed from Marjanovic to make it 15-10. Salem closed to 15-11, but Gannon ran off the final three goals.

Eight players found the cage for Gannon. Marjanovic had four goals and seven assists, while Schmitzerle had four goals and contributed an assist. Squeglia had three goals and six assists while Hamp scored three times, as well. Robert Bolmanski (Fairview, Pa./McDowell) and David Gallion (Arlington, Va./Homeschool) had a goal and an assist, Mickic and Seth Johnson (Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier) netting a goal. Marty Kaverman Jr. (Erie, Pa./McDowell) finished with one assist.

Jacob Hollo (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) turned in an outstanding effort in goal, finishing with 21 saves.

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Players Mentioned

#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

#2 Marty Kaverman Jr.: 5' 11"; Junior

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

#3 Dylan Schmitzerle: 6' 0"; Sophomore

#9 Tony Squeglia: Redshirt Senior; Criminal Justice

#13 Vladimir Mickic: Junior

Players Mentioned

#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

#2 Marty Kaverman Jr.
: 5' 11"; Junior

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

#3 Dylan Schmitzerle
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

#9 Tony Squeglia
: Redshirt Senior; Criminal Justice

#13 Vladimir Mickic
: Junior