Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#13 Navy (Southern Championships)
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Nipped by No. 13 Navy, 9-8, in Southern Championships Semifinal
10/29/2005 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 29, 2005
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - After winning its first game of the day over Salem International by one goal to advance to the semifinals of the Southern Championships, the Bucknell men's water polo team faced host and 13th-ranked Navy in its second game Saturday and was on the other side of a one-goal decision, falling to the Mids 9-8. The loss drops the Bison into Sunday's third-place game against Slippery Rock.
Despite losing to Navy (19-6), Bucknell has sealed a spot in the Eastern Championships, which will take place Nov. 12-13 in Cambridge, Mass., with Harvard serving as the host team.
Bucknell (12-16), which was a solid 5 of 9 in six-on-five opportunities, battled back from a pair of two-goal deficits, but could not draw even with Navy. The Mids led 5-3 at halftime after outscoring the Bison 4-1 in the second quarter. However, Bucknell was able to battle back and tie the score at six in the third quarter. Navy quickly answered with two straight goals to take an 8-6 lead and held on for the victory.
Jason Rechel (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and Nick Ferring (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis Country Day), who each tallied one goal in the earlier win over Salem International, led the way on the offensive end for the Bison with two goals each. Ferring also added an assist. Brad Roslyn (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) posted a team-high two assists.
Goalkeeper Trevor Mullins (Orinda, Calif./Palo Alto), who extended his consecutive start streak to 64, made nine saves. Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin), who leads the team in scoring with 42 goals and 59 points, scored just once, but led the defense with a career-high four steals.
The Bison, who were facing their 15th ranked opponent of the year, fell to 0-4 against Navy this year. After losing the first two contests by five and four goals, respectively, Bucknell, which is ranked 18th nationally, has lost the last two by matching one-goal margins.
Bucknell, which is the fifth overall seed at the Southern Championships, will face Slippery Rock with third place on the line at 12:45 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30. The Bison, who last finished higher than third at the conference championship in 1998, last claimed third place in 2003.
BUCKNELL 2 1 3 2 -8
NAVY 1 4 2 2 -9
Goals: Rechel (2), Ferring (2), Masterson, Platshon, Sunday, K. Roslyn.
Assists: B. Roslyn (2), Platshon, Ferring.
Ejections Drawn: B. Roslyn (3), Heiber, Platshon, Ferring, Sunday.
Saves: Mullins (9 svs., 9 ga)
Steals: Masterson (4), K. Roslyn.
Sprints: Rechel (0-4).
Record: 12-16
