Gilman regains MIAA water polo crown

Gilman didn’t lack motivation going into Saturday evening’s MIAA water polo championship match with Loyola Blakefield.

In the teams’ prior meeting this season, the Greyhounds got off to a promising start, only to see Loyola rally for victory. More importantly, the Dons had the proverbial championship belt Gilman desperately wanted back.

The Greyhounds accomplished the task with a 23-15 victory at McDonogh. Drew Garvey and Mason Murphy-Lenk each scored seven goals for the Greyhounds (10-2 overall), and junior goalie Nick Lutzky made eight saves. Senior Ryan Snyder finished with five goals and an assist for Loyola.

Gilman led wire-to-wire Saturday, claiming its third MIAA crown in four years. The Greyhounds defeated McDonogh in the semifinals Friday.

“It was a true team effort, from our goalie to our bench, we went five to six deep…they all contributed,” said Gilman coach Vaughn Smith.

Lutzky said the Greyhounds’ resolve was another key element in their championship run.

“The way we responded to losses, that’s what I think separated us from the rest of the league,” said Lutzky, who finished with eight saves Saturday. “The league was so even, any of the four teams could win it…we lost to Spalding and Loyola and how we responded defined us.”

Nearly three weeks ago, the Dons defeated Gilman, 14-13, in a match the Greyhounds led 8-2.

There was no letdown by Gilman Saturday which pulled away in the second half in its penultimate match of the season. Senior Jackson Barnhill and junior Randall Sean each provided hat tricks.

The 23 goals Saturday was a season-high.

“I was pleasantly surprised..our defense has been reliable all year long, our offense had some hiccups,” said Smith. “Obviously, the guys knew what was at stake and they brought it.”

The Greyhounds had a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter after Garvey scored off a rebound. Loyola scored three unanswered goals, the last from sophomore Charlie Kunkel, to pull within 7-6.

Gilman quickly regrouped as Murphy-Lenk, a junior, had a hat trick in a four-goal Greyhound run that left it with an 11-8 halftime advantage. Gilman extended the lead to 17-10 in the third, courtesy of another four-goal run spurt, but the Dons scraped back into contention, 17-13, entering the fourth.

The Greyhounds scored six of the first seven goals in the fourth with Garvey bookending goals in the decisive run. The senior, who also had an assist, was selected the Greg Hallisey Award recipient as the title match’s Most Valuable Player.

After an uneven start in league play, Loyola (8-4) rebounded, going undefeated (5-0) through the second rotation. Will Kunkel finished with four goals and an assist.

“We definitely turned it around…we were struggling a little bit,” said Dons’ first-year coach Gordon Amato. “The boys started to focus and playing as a team. I’m very proud of what they accomplished.”

Gilman’s run of three titles in four seasons is the best in MIAA water polo since Calvert Hall won eight straight (2001-2008).

The Greyhounds won their first MIAA water polo championship in 2000, and didn’t win their next until 2019.

“The program is looking great…obviously we have great kids,” said Smith. “Let’s keep the ball rolling.”

MIAA WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP

at McDonogh

GILMAN 23, LOYOLA BLAKEFIELD 15

Loyola 3 5 5 2 - 15

Gilman 5 6 6 6 - 23

Goals: Loyola - Ryan Snyder 5, Will Kunkel 4, Charlie Kunkel 3, Dominic Feracci 2, Ethan Daugherty; Gilman - Mason Murphy-Lenk 7, Drew Garvey 7, Jackson Barnhill 3, Randall Sean 3, Ryan Coleman 2, Tim Brooks

Assists: Loyola - Daugherty 2, Snyder, W. Kunkel, C. Kunkel; Gilman - Brooks 4, Garvey, Sean

Saves: Loyola - Harry Buch 9; Gilman - Nick Lutzky 8