Over the weekend, the Salem University Tigers men's water polo team split its two matches with Division I Iona College and Fordham University, defeating Iona 11-10 in the first match and losing 12-5 to Fordham in the second.

The Tigers put together strong starts to each half, scoring five goals in the first quarter for a 5-3 lead and taking a 7-6 advantage into the half. In the third quarter, Salem scored four more goals, providing all the breathing room it needed to survive a scoreless fourth quarter and hold off Iona.

"Beating a Division I program is huge for any Division II school," Head Coach Robert Bullion said. "We are starting to play the way I know this team can play."

Robert Juhas led the team with three goals and Marton Dudok and Marino Churro scored two each. Petar Leontijevic, Milos Popovic, Inigo Velasco and Michael Rojas scored a goal each. Goalie David Romero had 15 saves on 25 shots.

In the second match, Salem struggled out of the gate, falling behind 5-1 in the first quarter, stringing together just five goals for the match. Juhas led the team again with two goals and Marino, Popovic and Rojas scored one each. Romero had 11 saves on 22 shots. 

After the weekend, Salem's record stands at 8-11 with the final matches of its regular season conference next weekend. The Tigers play McKendree University and Monmouth College on Oct. 28, and against Mercyhurst University on Oct. 29. Salem can clinch the second seed in the MWPC Western Region Championships if it wins out.

The Tigers are 2-0 versus Mercyhurst this season, having defeated them 13-6 at the Mercyhurst Invite on Sept. 10, and 12-10 on Oct. 14 at the CWPA Division II Championships. Salem defeated McKendree 20-6 in the first match between the two teams this season on Oct. 15. Salem has not played Monmouth College—the host of this weekend's matches—yet this season.