Bucknell University
Harvard
No. 20 Bucknell Advances to ECAC Championship Game with 6-5 Win over Harvard in Men's Water Polo
9/25/2004 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 25, 2004
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Six different players scored goals as Bucknell advanced to the men's water polo ECAC championship game for the first time in program history with a 6-5 defeat of host Harvard Saturday afternoon. The Bison, ranked 20th in the latest national rankings, improved to 9-2 with the victory to equal their best start since the 1999 campaign.
Playing its second game of the day, Bucknell, which defeated No. 13 Navy 8-6 earlier in the afternoon, trailed at halftime for the second time as the Crimson held a 4-3 advantage at intermission. However, the Bison defense, led by senior Jay Danforth's three steals and junior Trevor Mullins' six saves in goal, allowed just one goal in the second half and none in the game's final quarter.
After scoring a career-high five goals against the Mids, junior Bradley Roslyn netted one against Harvard. Sean Robinson, Kyle Roslyn, Aaron Platshon, Nick Ferring and Danforth all joined him in the scoring column. Elliot Benoist and Platshon added two and one assists, respectively. Ferring's tally, which came with 1:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, proved to be the decisive goal as Mullins turned away a last-second attempt from Rick Offsay.
Bucknell will face the winner of the first game of the day at Blodgett Pool in Sunday's championship game. The game is scheduled for a 12:45 p.m. start. The Bison are guaranteed to eclipse their best finish in the ECAC Championship, which were third-place showings in 1997 and 1998.
BUCKNELL 2 1 2 1 -- 6
HARVARD 1 3 1 0 -- 5
Goals: B. Roslyn, Robinson, K. Roslyn, Platshon, Ferring, Danforth.
Assists: Benoist (2), Platshon.
Ejections Drawn: Benoist (2), B. Roslyn, Robinson.
Saves: Mullins (6 svs., 5 ga).
Steals: Danforth (3), Platshon.
Record: 9-2 (3-0 Southern Division).
