Sept. 2, 2007

Box Score

Anapolis, Md. - The Mercyhurst men's water polo team opened its 2007 campaign at the Navy Labor Day Open and earned a regular season victory over Queens (N.Y.) on Sunday, which followed exhibition wins over Pacific B and Lindenwood.

Lakers are coming off the best season in school history at 12-8, but the squad started the 2006 season 0-2 at the Navy Labor Day Open. This season, however, the Lakers started on the right foot, rolling past Queens 17-7 and winning the first season opener in the program's seven-year history.

Mercyhurst outscored Queens in all four quarters, including jumping out to a 5-0 advantage after the first period. The Lakers also closed strong, scoring six goals in the final frame.

Junior Alex Perry, a junior college All-American at Grossmont a year ago, led the team with five goals, two assists and a steal. Senior Kevin Riordan scored four times and contributed two assists, and returning leading scorer and 2006 Division II First Team All-American, Andrew Schonhoff, scored three times and recorded two drawn ejections, one assist and one steal.

Freshman Alex Moggridge scored twice for his first career goals. Junior Oscar Calderon and freshman Ryan Speers also scored one goal apiece.

Goalkeeper Andy Sekulski, making his first career appearance, made 10 saves and totaled three steals.

Prior to Sunday's win over Queens, the Lakers defeated Pacific B 14-10 and breezed by Lindenwood 17-7 before dropping a 7-6 overtime decision to Navy B Sunday evening.

The Lakers travel to Princeton, N.J. for four games in two days at the Princeton Invitational, beginning Friday, Sept. 8.