Nikiforos Liantziris vs. Mercyhurst

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

Golden Knights Win Twice in Penn State Behrend Invitational to Improve to 14-4

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's water polo team improved to 14-4 on the season with a pair of wins while competing in the Penn State Behrend Invitational on Saturday. The Golden Knights won for the third time this year against host Behrend by a 22-8 score, then defeated Washington & Jefferson for the second time 22-11 in the nightcap.

The 14 wins are the most since the 2021 team finished with a 14-10 record. Gannon saw its seven-game winning streak snapped last weekend but has now won nine of its last ten games.

Head coach Zarko Sadikovic used his full roster on Saturday. A total 12 different players scored in the Penn State Behrend win, and eight found the back of the net against Washington & Jefferson.

The Golden Knights return to action next weekend in the WWPA Bearcat Clash. They will face host Salem on Saturday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m., then return to the pool for a 5:00 p.m. match against McKendree. That will wrap up WWPA action with the WWPA Championships looming on Friday, November 22-Sunday, November 24.

Gannon 22, Penn State Behrend 8
The Golden Knights trailed just once in the match as Behrend scored the opening goal a minute into the match. Gannon answered with three straight goals and led 5-2 after one quarter. The lead grew to 11-5 at the half as six different players scored goals in the second quarter. Gannon would limit the Lions to just one goal in the third quarter and took a commanding 15-7 lead into the final period. They proceeded to outscore Behrend 7-2 over the final eight minutes as Petar Markovic (Belgrade, Serbia) scored twice. The sophomore from Serbia led Gannon with four goals, adding an assist. Victor Volant (Fuveau, France) added three goals and two assists. Eleven different players scored goals and 14 players had a goal or an assist. Alvaro Marco (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset) played the first and third periods in goal, finishing with seven saves, while Bator Mohacsi (Budapest, Hungary) had 10 saves while playing the second and fourth quarters.  

Gannon Scoring: Petar Markovic (Belgrade, Serbia) (4 goals-1 assist); Victor Volant (Fuveau, France) (3 goals-2 assists); Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece) (2 goals-4 assists); Alexandros Kotskar (Voula, Greece/Athinaiki Agogh) (2 goals-2 assists); Rajmund Farsang (Eger, Hungary) (2 goals – 1 assist); Paco Palacian (Seattle, Wash./O'Dea) (2 goals); Ben Fribourg (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) (1 goal-3 assists); Dominic Demeritte (Nassau, Bahamas/Blake Academy) (1 goal-1 assist); Ian Dovydaitis (Orlando, Fla./East River) (1 goal-1 assist); Matthew Harkrader (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) (1 goals-1 assist); Dillon Shaw (Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline) (1 goal-1 assist); Sebastian Gallo (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) (1 goal); Bator Mohacsi (Budapest, Hungary) (2 assists); Jordan Kraus (Erie, Pa./McDowell) (1 assist)

Goalie Saves: Alvaro Marco (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset) (16 minutes – 3 GA – 7 saves); Bator Mohacsi (Budapest, Hungary) (16 minutes (5 GA – 10 saves)
 
Gannon 22, Washington & Jefferson 11
Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece) and Petar Markovic (Belgrade, Serbia) led eight players with goals as each scored five times. Liantziris added three assists while Markovich had a pair. Gannon led by just 5-3 after one quarter and outscored the Presidents 5-3 in the second quarter as well for a 10-6 lead at the half. Gannon never trailed in the match, jumping out to a 4-0 lead on goals by Victor Volant (Fuveau, France), Markovic, Ben Fribourg (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore), and Matthew Harkrader (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn). Gannon ran off the first three goals of the second half, two by Volant, to go ahead 13-6. W&J never pulled closer than six goals. Marco and Newson Morphy shared time in goal with Marco playing the first and third quarters and Morphy the second and fourth.

Gannon Scoring: Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece) (5 goals-3 assists); Petar Markovic (Belgrade, Serbia) (5 goals-2 assists); Alexandros Kotskar (Voula, Greece/Athinaiki Agogh) (4 goals-1 assist); Victoro Volant (3 goals- 3 assists); Matthew Harkrader (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) (2 goals-2 assists); Ben Fribourg (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) (1 goal-1 assists); Ian Dovydaitis (Orlando, Fla./East River) (1 goal-1 assist); Rajmund Farsang (Eger, Hungary) (1 goal); Jordan Kraus (Erie, Pa./McDowell) (2 assists), Alvaro Marco (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset) (2 assists); Sebastian Gallo (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) (1 assist); Newson Morphy (1 assist)

Goalie Saves: Alvaro Marco (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset) (16 minutes – 4 GA – 9 saves); Hewson Morphy (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) (16 minutes (16 minutes – 7 GA – 3 saves)
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Ian Dovydaitis

#8 Ian Dovydaitis

Util.
6' 2"
Sophomore
Ben Fribourg

#5 Ben Fribourg

A
6' 0"
Senior
Sebastian Gallo

#24 Sebastian Gallo

D
5' 10"
Junior
Alexandros Kotskar

#10 Alexandros Kotskar

A
6' 0"
Junior
Alvaro Marco

#1 Alvaro Marco

GK
5' 10"
Senior
Hewson Morphy

#1A Hewson Morphy

GK
6' 6"
Sophomore
Paco Palacian

#7 Paco Palacian

C
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Matthew Harkrader

#20 Matthew Harkrader

D
6' 0"
Senior
Dominic Demeritte

#2 Dominic Demeritte

A
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jordan Kraus

#14 Jordan Kraus

D
5' 10"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Ian Dovydaitis

#8 Ian Dovydaitis

6' 2"
Sophomore
Util.
Ben Fribourg

#5 Ben Fribourg

6' 0"
Senior
A
Sebastian Gallo

#24 Sebastian Gallo

5' 10"
Junior
D
Alexandros Kotskar

#10 Alexandros Kotskar

6' 0"
Junior
A
Alvaro Marco

#1 Alvaro Marco

5' 10"
Senior
GK
Hewson Morphy

#1A Hewson Morphy

6' 6"
Sophomore
GK
Paco Palacian

#7 Paco Palacian

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
C
Matthew Harkrader

#20 Matthew Harkrader

6' 0"
Senior
D
Dominic Demeritte

#2 Dominic Demeritte

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
A
Jordan Kraus

#14 Jordan Kraus

5' 10"
Senior
D