ERIE, Pa. — The Gannon men's water polo team used a pair of key scoring runs and a dominant fourth-quarter stretch to earn its first victory over George Washington in nearly 18 years, holding on for a 15-14 win Sunday afternoon at Hallman Aquatics Center.
After falling behind 5-2 early in the second quarter, the Golden Knights rattled off four unanswered goals to take their first lead of the match.
George Washington later regained control and carried an 11-10 advantage into the fourth before scoring the first two goals of the final period to stretch its lead to 13-10.
Gannon responded with five unanswered goals, including three straight from
Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece/1o EPAL Zografou) to tie the match at 13-13.
Giacomo Peretti (Verona, Italy/Liceo G. Fracastoro) then put the Golden Knights in front before Liantziris struck again with 36 seconds remaining for Gannon's final goal and what proved to be the game-winner.
George Washington scored with 25 seconds left, but the Golden Knights held on for the one-goal victory.
Liantziris and
Victor Volant (Fuveau, France/Font d'Aurumy) each finished with four goals, while
Rajmund Farsang (Eger, Hungary/Neumann Janos Gimnazium) recorded one goal and seven assists. Farsang's seven assists tied for the second-most in a single match in program history.
The victory moved Gannon to 7-7 on the season and marked its first win over George Washington since Oct. 18, 2008, when the Golden Knights earned a 7-6 neutral-site victory at the Bucknell Invitational.
THE GAME FACTS
Score: Gannon 15, George Washington 14
Records: Gannon (7-7), George Washington (10-7)
Location: Hallman Aquatics Center | Erie, Pa.
Date: Oct. 4, 2026
THE KNIGHT CAP
- Ending the Drought: Gannon defeated George Washington for the first time since Oct. 18, 2008, snapping a nearly 18-year drought in the series. The Golden Knights also avenged a 15-8 loss to George Washington on Sept. 12 earlier this season.
- Fourth-Quarter Charge: After falling behind 13-10 early in the fourth quarter, Gannon scored five unanswered goals to surge in front.
- Liantziris Takes Over: Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece/1o EPAL Zografou) scored three straight goals during Gannon's fourth-quarter run before adding the eventual game-winner with 36 seconds remaining.
- Four Apiece: Liantziris and Victor Volant (Fuveau, France/Font d'Aurumy) each scored four goals to lead the Golden Knights offensively.
- Farsang Ties Assist Mark: Rajmund Farsang (Eger, Hungary/Neumann Janos Gimnazium) finished with one goal and seven assists, with his seven assists tying for the second-most in a single match in program history.
- Perfect in Sprints: Gannon went 4-for-4 in sprints, with Volant and Liantziris each winning two.
- Big Second Quarter: Gannon erased a 5-2 deficit with four unanswered goals in the second quarter and outscored George Washington 6-2 in the period.
- Balanced Attack: Eight different Golden Knights scored, led by four goals apiece from Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece/1o EPAL Zografou) and Victor Volant (Fuveau, France/Font d'Aurumy). Nick Thompson (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) added two goals, while Rajmund Farsang (Eger, Hungary/Neumann Janos Gimnazium), Nathaniel Castellon (Eastvale, Cal./Eleanor Roosevelt), Petar Markovic (Belgrade, Serbia/Sports High School of Belgrade), Nikita Rudoi (Sabadel, Spain/Jaume Viladoms) and Giacomo Peretti (Verona, Italy/Liceo G. Fracastoro) each scored once.
- Mohacsi in Goal: Bator Mohacsi (Budapest, Hungary/ELTE Apáczai Csere János Gyakorló Gimnázium és Kollégium) made 12 saves while playing all 32 minutes in net.
Up Next
Gannon returns to action on Friday, Oct. 23, when it opens WWPA Conference Weekend against host Salem. The Golden Knights and Tigers are scheduled for an 8 p.m. start in Bridgeport, W.Va.
This story was written using the support of AI.
