2022 Men's Water Polo Seniors
Bryce Dolak

Men's Water Polo Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Honors Seniors then Hands Mercyhurst 16-8 Defeat in CWPA Championship

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's water polo team opened defense of its CWPA Division II Championship on Friday in a renewal of its rivalry with Mercyhurst. The Golden Knights have actually won the last four CWPA titles. On Friday night, they handed Mercyhurst a 16-8 defeat at Cathedral Prep's Hallman Aquatics Center. Gannon is now 5-12 while the Lakers are 2-15.

It was also Senior Night, with six seniors recognized prior to the match. The six then went out and made sure they enjoyed their night. Marty Kaverman Jr. (Erie, Pa./McDowell) contributed six goals and an assist, with Drago Marjanovic (Belgrade, Serbia/North Allegheny (Pa.)) adding two goals and seven assists. Marjanovic moved into seventh place in career assists with 91. Vlad Mickic (Subotica, Serbia/Nikola Tesla) had a pair of goals, while Seth Johnson (Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier) had a goal and an assist and John Vieira (Erie, Pa/Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy (McDowell)) had an assist. The sixth senior, Jacob Hollo (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), was brilliant in goal with 15 saves.

Mercyhurst actually outshot Gannon 39-32, but the Golden Knights owned a .500 shooting percentage while the Lakers came in at .205. Gannon was an efficient 5-of-10 on the power play while Mercyhurst was 0-of-3.

Mercyhurst also jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, but Gannon would lead 5-3 after one period. Mickic scored the first two goals for the Golden Knights and Kaverman followed with the next two. The second with 41 seconds remaining off a pass from Dylan Schmitzerle (Richmond, Va./Huron) gave Gannon the lead for good at 4-3. Leading scorer Alex Kotskar (Voula, Greece) scored the first of his two goals with a second remaining for a 5-3 lead. Kotskar, a freshman, now has 62 goals which ranks seventh in a season.

Gannon would make it five straight goals while scoring the first three goals of the second period. Kaverman began the run with a penalty shot, and followed with a power play goal, assisted by Marjanovic. Marjanovic then did the honors off a pass from Kotskar to make it 8-3 with just under two minutes left in the half.

Gannon led 8-4 at the half, and Mercyhurst pulled no closer than three goals the rest of the way. With the score at 9-6 with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Gannon scored three times to make it 12-6 with eight minutes remaining. Kaverman accounted for two of the goals plus an assist and Marjanovic had a goal and an assist.

The Golden Knights built the lead to 15-6 with the first three goals of the final period, making it six straight goals.

Gannon returns to the pool on Saturday evening facing McKendree (16-7) at 7:40 p.m. They will wrap up play on Sunday against Salem (9-11) hoping to celebrate a fifth straight CWPA Championship.

Gannon Scoring: Marty Kaverman Jr. (Erie, Pa./McDowell) 6 goals and 1 assist; Drago Marjanovic (Belgrade, Serbia/North Allegheny (Pa.)) 2 goals and 7 assists; Alex Kotskar (Voula, Greece) 2 goals and 1 assist; Vlad Mickic (Subotica, Serbia/Nikola Tesla) 2 goals; Dylan Schmitzerle (Richmond, Va./Huron) 1 goal and 2 assists; Ben Fribourg (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) 1 goal and 2 assists; Seth Johnson (Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier) 1 goal and 1 assist; Jordan Kraus (Erie, Pa./McDowell) 1 goal; John Vieira (Erie, Pa/Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy (McDowell)) 1 assist.

Goalie Saves: Jacob Hollo (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) 8 goals – 15 saves.
 
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Players Mentioned

Ben Fribourg

#5 Ben Fribourg

D/Util
Sophomore
Jacob Hollo

#1 Jacob Hollo

Gk
6' 1"
Senior
Seth Johnson

#7 Seth Johnson

D/Util
6' 3"
Senior
Marty Kaverman Jr.

#2 Marty Kaverman Jr.

D
5' 11"
Senior
Jordan Kraus

#14 Jordan Kraus

D
Sophomore
Drago Marjanovic

#18 Drago Marjanovic

D/Util.
5' 11"
Graduate Student
Business
Vladimir Mickic

#13 Vladimir Mickic

2-M
Junior
Dylan Schmitzerle

#3 Dylan Schmitzerle

D/2-M Def.
6' 0"
Junior
John Vieira

#10 John Vieira

D
Senior
Pre-Medicine
Alexandros Kotskar

#6 Alexandros Kotskar

D/Util.
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ben Fribourg

#5 Ben Fribourg

Sophomore
D/Util
Jacob Hollo

#1 Jacob Hollo

6' 1"
Senior
Gk
Seth Johnson

#7 Seth Johnson

6' 3"
Senior
D/Util
Marty Kaverman Jr.

#2 Marty Kaverman Jr.

5' 11"
Senior
D
Jordan Kraus

#14 Jordan Kraus

Sophomore
D
Drago Marjanovic

#18 Drago Marjanovic

5' 11"
Graduate Student
Business
D/Util.
Vladimir Mickic

#13 Vladimir Mickic

Junior
2-M
Dylan Schmitzerle

#3 Dylan Schmitzerle

6' 0"
Junior
D/2-M Def.
John Vieira

#10 John Vieira

Senior
Pre-Medicine
D
Alexandros Kotskar

#6 Alexandros Kotskar

Freshman
D/Util.