LEWISBURG, PA. — Wagner men's water polo team wrapped up a busy weekend at the Bucknell Invite, picking up a pair of high-scoring victories over Salem and Mercyhurst while dropping a hard-fought contest to tournament host Bucknell at Kinney Natatorium.
 
Game 1 Results: Wagner 14 – Salem 8
 
The Seahawks established control from the opening sprint, building a 4-1 lead by the end of the first quarter . Sophomore Nadav Carmon and junior Matan Friedenberg were key in the early surge, finding the back of the net to help the Green & White find the pace against the Tigers.

Carmon and Friedenberg both struck again early in the second quarter to expand the lead, with some other goals from sophomore Aksel Gerhardstein and sophomore Jacob Troy, allowing the Seahawks to carry a comfortable 7-3 advantage into the halftime break.

Salem attempted to respond in the second half, but the Seahawks matched their intensity every time. Wagner took the third quarter 3-2 to extend their cushion to 10-5 before closing out the game with a four-goal final frame.

Sophomore Kelly Murphy took advantage of the stretch, netting three goals in the fourth quarter, while sophomore Toby Zeeck also added a late strike to help seal the 14-8 victory.

Goals: Murphy (3), Carmon (2), Smith Connors (2), Friedenberg (2), Gerhardstein, Troy, Zeeck, Varga, Colley
 
Game 2 Results: Wagner 14 – Bucknell 19

Bucknell took control of the match early, using their home-pool advantage to build a 6-3 lead in the opening frame . Junior Matan Friedenberg, sophomore Nadav Carmon, and sophomore Kelly Murphy all found the back of the net for Wagner in the first quarter to keep the team within striking distance.

The Seahawks found their rhythm defensively in the second quarter. Friedenberg struck again, completing a hat trick, while junior captain Smith Connors, junior Matt Wedlock and senior captain Patrick Ray added goals of their own, entering the halftime break 9-12.

Bucknell kept the momentum coming out of the intermission. The Bison offense erupted in the third quarter, putting together a five-goal frame. Wagner kept battling, generating two goals of their own in the period courtesy of Ray and sophomore Toby Zeeck, but Bucknell carried a commanding 17-11 lead into the final eight minutes.

The Seahawks continued to fight in the fourth quarter, outscoring the hosts 3-2 down the stretch. Murphy and freshman James Davis provided late offensive highlights, but the third-quarter deficit proved too large to overcome as Bucknell secured the 19-14 victory.

Goals: Friedenberg (3), Connors (2), Murphy (2), Ray (2), Davis (2), Carmon, Wedlock, Zeeck
 
Game 3 Results: Wagner 17 – Mercyhurst 15
 
During the opening frame, sophomore Jacob Troy dominated the Seahawks' attack, scoring two goals. Wagner imposed its rhythm, lighting up the scoreboard with two more strikes from freshman Harry Colley and junior captain Smith Connors, who helped the Green & White establish a 4-4 tied period after eight minutes.

The offensive play continued into the second frame, where Wagner outscored the Lakers 3-2. Colley found the back of the net again alongside a two-goal surge from Connors, expanding the Seahawks' advantage to a 7-6 lead at the halftime intermission.

Mercyhurst mounted an intense second-half response. However, timely finishes by Connors in both the third and fourth quarters, along with a critical five-meter penalty conversion from senior Gabe Johnson, provided Wagner with the cushion needed to preserve the win down the stretch.

Goals: Connors (6), Troy (4), Colley (2), Vince Varga (2), Matan Friedenberg (2), Johnson
 
Next Up:
The Seahawks travel west to USAFA, Colorado, for the Rare Air Challenge hosted at the United States Air Force Academy on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27. Competing at high altitude in a grueling four-game slate, Wagner will take on UC Santa Barbara, Augustana, Biola, and tournament host Air Force.