Claremont, CA - The Wagner College men's water polo team flew into Claremont, CA for the 2023 Gary Troyer Tournament. The Seahawks played in four games over the weekend, hosted by the University of La Verne and Pomona College.

The tournament lasted from Friday, September 29 to Saturday, September 30, and saw the Seahawks face off against #14 California Baptist and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on day one of competition, then the University of La Verne and Pomona-Pitzer to round out day two. 

Game 1 Results: Wagner 11 - #14 California Baptist 18

The Seahawks trailed 7-2 after the first frame of play. Sophomore Laszlo Strasser was responsible for both goals for the Green & White. Wagner would battle back in the second quarter, scoring the final three goals of the half. Senior Barnabas Vidovics added two of his own goals during the period. Senior Zsombor Gyemant, freshman Maayan Nahari, and graduate student Ben Zovickian also tallied their first of the weekend during the second.

Wagner and CBU both scored two goals during the third quarter. Strasser put away his third of the contest, while Gyemant scored his second as the Seahawks trailed 15-9 heading into the final frame of play. In the fourth, Strasser and Gyemant would, once again, both find themselves with one more goal before the end of play. Bring Stasser's goal total to four, and Gyemant to three. CBU would prevail 18-11.

Game 2 Results: Wagner 9 - Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 11

Wagner held a 4-2 lead after one quarter of play. Strasser started off hot with two goals in the initial frame, Gyemant also added his name to the scoresheet, while senior Ryan Lanier scored his first of the weekend halfway through the first. Wagner and CMS traded a pair of goals during the second quarter. Gyemant netted his second of the game, and freshman Vince Varga scored late in the half, to bring Wagner's lead to 6-4. 

In the third, Strasser scored two more goals for the Seahawks, bringing his game total to four for the second straight game. Wagner and CMS would be tied, 8-8, heading into the final frame of play. In the fourth, Lanier would find the back of the net for his second of the contest. Wagner would fall to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 11-9.

Game 3 Results: Wagner 18 - University of La Verne 9

Heading into the second day of the tournament, Wagner would pour in seven goals during the opening quarter. Juniors Kyle Chambers and Mattia Bognolo would score their first goals of the weekend in the first, along with goals from Strasser, Varga, and three from Gyemant. The Seahawks would outscore La Verne in the second quarter as well, 4-3. Vidovics would score in the second, along with Gyemant finding his fourth goal, and Strasser his second, bringing Wagner's halftime lead to 11-5.

Wagner scored three goals in the third, Zovickian opened the scoring for the Seahawks. Sophomore Eliot Alvarez netted two goals less than a minute apart to end the third quarter. Heading into the fourth, the Seahawks held a 14-6 lead. Varga would score three goals in the final frame alone, bringing his game total to four. Junior captain Andrew Cowie would add his own goal in the fourth. The Seahawks would advance past La Verne, 18-9

Game 4 Results: Wagner 11 - Pomona-Pitzer 6 

The Seahawks would trail 2-1 after the first frame. Gyemant continued his scoring with a long goal in the first. In the second quarter, Wagner would share the wealth as Strasser, Zovickian, Vidovics, and Lanier outscored Pomona-Pitzer 4-0, to gain a 5-2 lead heading into halftime. 

Wagner and Pomona-Pitzer both tallied three goals in the third quarter. Bognolo, Cowie, and junior Luis Camino Sosa were responsible for granting Wagner a 8-5 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Wagner would score another three goals in the final frame, two coming from Bognolo and one from Alvarez. Bognolo would finish with a hat-trick, as Wagner would win, 11-6.

Over the course of the weekend, graduate student Djordje Stoiljkovic spent 104 minutes in goal for the Green & White. The Serbian native totaled 34 saves over four games. Senior Kevin Roach spent three quarters in goal against La Verne, saving 10 shots during the contest.

Next up, the men's water polo team will take on MAWPC opponent Fordham on Wednesday, October 4, at Fordham University.