Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Squad Set to Open 2004 Campaign Saturday
9/1/2004 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 1, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - With six starters and eight letterwinners returning from its 2003 edition, the Bucknell men's water polo team is aiming to improve upon its 10-20 mark from last year. The Bison faced their normal daunting schedule last season, complete with 15 nationally ranked teams. This year's slate will be of similar strength, but the veterans on the squad, which consists of three juniors and five seniors, are ready to produce the first winning season for the program since 1999.
The Bison begin their quest for a winning campaign this Saturday, Sept. 4, during the first day of the two-day Navy Open. Bucknell will face Long Beach State and Fordham on Saturday. Sunday will feature matches with a Fort Lauderdale club team and California. The Bison make their first appearance at Kinney Natatorium the following weekend when they host the Bucknell Invitational.
"This is a big year," explained sixth-year head coach John Zeigler. "We were building the last couple of years, but this season we are looking to become a top-four team in the conference. Our league is extremely difficult, but we can compete with the top teams."
Leading the way for the balanced Bison will be senior co-captain Aaron Platshon. The Menlo Park, Calif., native, who is the fifth two-time captain in the 28-year history of the program, was one of three BU players to tally at least 60 points. His 37 goals ranked third on the team, while his 30 assists paced the squad. Platshon was also a defensive threat, recording 49 steals to bring his two-year career total to 105.
"I anticipate a big year for Aaron," commented Zeigler. "The leadership is there and the comfort of being a two-time captain is immense for him."
Classmate Jay Danforth and junior Bradley Roslyn joined Platshon with at least 60 points and were the top two goal scorers on the team. Danforth scored 47 goals and dished out 14 assists for his total of 61 points. He also registered a team-high 79 steals, including a season-high eight opposite Slippery Rock. Roslyn netted a team-high 48 goals and assisted on 12 others for his 60 points.
"Brad was our top goal scorer last year and is only going to improve," said Zeigler. "He is going to play the utility drive position more this year, which is where he really excels."
Elliot Benoist, who will share captaincy duties with Platshon, added 31 goals and 55 points to the Bucknell offensive tally as a junior. After battling injuries that limited him to 26 games last year, the left-hander has had a solid offseason and is healthy entering his final season in Orange and Blue.
Senior Nick Ferring joined the trio of Platshon, Danforth and Roslyn as the only Bison to start every game last year. The St. Louis, Mo., native netted 33 goals and tallied 19 assists, both career high marks.
In goal, Zeigler expects junior Trevor Mullins to hold his starting position, but anticipates competition from freshman Lucas Belenky. Last year, Mullins started 24 games and made 163 saves while allowing 212 goals. His save percentage of .435 was an increase from his .415 mark as a freshman. The Orinda, Calif., native saved a career-high 12 shots against St. Francis (N.Y.) in September.
Belenky is just one member of Zeigler's eight-person recruiting class that represents five different states. In addition to the freshmen, junior Sean Robinson, a transfer from Clemson University, will don the Orange and Blue for the first time in 2004.
The newcomers will add much-needed depth to the Bison as they face a difficult schedule which includes a meeting with defending NCAA champion USC. Along with the Trojans, Bucknell will face at least six other teams that finished last year ranked in the national poll.
In addition to trips to the always-difficult Claremont Convergence and to the ECAC Championships at Harvard, the Bison will host a number of matches at the state-of-the-art Arthur D. Kinney Jr. Natatorium. In its second season, Kinney Natatorium will play host to the Bucknell Invitational in September and league games against George Washington, Johns Hopkins, Princeton and Navy. Additionally, the Eastern Championships will be held at Kinney Natatorium in November. The winner of the Eastern Championships earns one of the four automatic berths to the NCAA Championships, which Kinney Natatorium will host in 2005, but is held at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center this year.
