Behrend Men's Water Polo Defeats Mercyhurst at W&J Invitational

WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's water polo team posted a 1-3 record at the two-day Washington & Jefferson Invitational to open the 2025 season.

Match One
Score: Gannon 24, Penn State Behrend 19
Records: Penn State Behrend (0-2), Gannon (3-4)

Key Moments:

* The Lions got on the board first at the 6:32 mark of the first quarter
* Gannon responded with the next seven goals
* Behrend finished the quarter with three straight goals, including one on a penalty to cut the lead to 7-4
* The Golden Knights outscored the Lions 11-6 in the second quarter for an 18-10 lead at the break
* Behrend managed to outscore Gannon 9-6 over the next two periods but it wasn't enough for the comeback
* Caden Currykosky scored five goals and had four drawn ejections and two drawn penalty shots
* Ethan Friedman recorded 29 saves

Match Two
Score: Salem 25, Penn State Behrend 15
Records: Salem (4-2), Penn State Behrend (0-3)

Key Moments:

* Jack Johnson and Dylan Hayslip each contributed three goals
* Friedman registered another 29-save contest
* Eugene Kruger handed out four assists and Atticus Brown recorded two helpers
* Salem held a four-goal advantage after the first quarter, but the Lions outscored the Tigers 6-5 in the second for a three-goal deficit at halftime
* Salem added 12 more goals in the second half while holding Behrend to just five

Match Three

Score: Behrend 13, Mercyhurst 12
Records: Penn State Behrend (1-2), Mercyhurst (0-1)

Key Moments:

* Nick Thompson scored the game-winning goal with time expiring on the clock to help the Lions collect their first win of the season
* Thompson also netted the game-tying goal two minutes prior
* Overall, Thompson led with five goals while Hayslip and Ryan Carpico each tallied two goals apiece
* Behrend led in the first half and then trailed by one in the next two quarters before the heroics of Thompson

Match Four

Score: Johns Hopkins 21, Penn State Behrend 8
Records: Penn State Behrend (1-3), Johns Hopkins (3-1)

Key Moments:

* Hopkins took the early lead and held Behrend scoreless in the first quarter
* Matthew Casalegno and Thompson tallied consecutive goals to get the Lions on the board
* The Blue Jays outscored Behrend 9-2 to pull ahead for good

Up Next:

* Behrend returns to action on Friday at the Navy Open.