ANNAPOLIS, Maryland- The Salem men's water polo team headed to Annapolis, Maryland where they would kick off the 2024 season competing in the U.S. Naval Academy Open. Salem would start the season playing four games in 2 days where they would split going 2-2 at the U.S. Naval Academy Open.
 
Navy 13, Salem 9

For the first match up of the weekend, Salem faced the Navy Midshipmen early on Saturday morning. The Tigers started out with an early 2-0 lead with goals by Danko Kesic and Marko Zivojinovic. However, the Midshipmen came back with 2 goals of their own to tie up the score at the end of the first quarter. Marko Zivojinovic scored 3 goals in the second but the Tigers would still be down 6-5 going into the half.

During the third quarter Salem would get a pair of goals from Ivan Zivojinovic and Antonio Sablic. Going into the final quarter Navy still held a 9-7 lead. Navy outscored Salem 4-2 in the fourth quarter to take the win.
 
Salem 15, Biola 7

The second match up of the day was a late afternoon game against Biola University. The Tigers had complete control of the first half with a 6-1 lead at halftime with three of those goals coming from Nikola Krstonosic. The third quarter both teams scored 5 goals with the Tigers having a comfortable lead headed into the fourth. The Tigers would outscore Biola 4-1 in the fourth to take the win. Nikola Krstonosic finished the game with an impressive 7 goals.
 
Salem 22, John Hopkins 14

The third match up was Sunday afternoon against John Hopkins University. The Tigers would start out the game having a 8-4 lead with Marko Zivojinovic and Nikola Krstonosic each having three goals in the first quarter. John Hopkins would outscore Salem 6-4 in the second quarter. Giving Salem a 12-10 lead heading into the half.

The third quarter the Tigers went on a 6-0 run extending their lead to 18-10. In the fourth quarter John Hopkins would outscore Salem 4-3, but it wasn't enough as the Tigers won their second game of the U.S. Naval Academy Open.
 
George Washington 16, Salem 15

The Salem Tigers closed the weekend taking on the George Washington Revolutionaries on Sunday evening. George Washington got off to a great start holding a 9-5 lead at the end of the first half. The third quarter was even as both teams scored 4 goals giving George Washington a 13-9 lead going into the final quarter. The Tigers went on an impressive run scoring 4 goals in the last few minutes of the game, but it was not enough as the Revolutionaries took the victory 16-15.
 
After a good start to the season, Salem will return home as they take on the University of Toronto Friday September 13th, 2024 at 7 PM.