Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Brown (Eastern Championship)
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Advances to Eastern Championship Semifinal with 6-5 Win Over Brown
11/12/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 12, 2005
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Bucknell defense made two stops in the final 30 seconds to hold off fourth-seeded Brown for a 6-5 win in the first game of the men's water polo Eastern Championship Saturday morning. The Bison, ranked 17th in the nation and seeded fifth this weekend, advanced to the semifinals and will face No. 13 Navy in the semifinals at 7 p.m.
Bucknell held a slim 6-5 lead in the final minute of play, and the defense, which was led by senior goalkeeper Trevor Mullins' (Orinda, Calif./Palo Alto) 12 saves, made two stops, including one in a man-down situation, to hold the Bears scoreless in the fourth quarter. Time expired as Mullins turned away the final shot of the game.
Freshman Gabriel Heiber (Aventura, Fla./Miami Beach) scored a career-high three goals to lead the Bison offensive charge. Brad Roslyn (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter), Aaron Platshon (Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo School) and Josh Sunday (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) each tallied one goal. Platshon added a team-high two assists to increase his season total to 36. He also recorded a team-high three steals, bringing his season total to 44.
A close game throughout, the two teams were tied at 2-2 after the first quarter, and Bucknell held a slight 4-3 advantage at halftime. The score was tied again at the end of the third quarter. The winning goal was scored in the fourth period, which featured just one score.
The win was the 200th of Bison seventh-year head coach John Zeigler's career. He has accumulated 99 wins as mentor of the men's team and he has 101 in his six years at the helm of the Bucknell women's program.
The victory helped the Bison clinch at least their highest finish at the Eastern Championship since 1998. By advancing to the semifinals, Bucknell sealed at least a fourth-place finish in the eight-team field. The last time the Bison claimed fourth was in 1998. The last time they had a better showing than that was a second-place finish in 1993.
Saturday night's meeting with Navy will be the fifth contest between the Bison and Mids this year. Bucknell is 0-4 against Navy, but have lost each of the last two games by just one goal.
BUCKNELL 2 2 1 1 -6
BROWN 2 1 2 0 -5
Goals: Heiber (3), B. Roslyn, Platshon, Sunday.
Assists: Platshon (2), B. Roslyn, Masterson, Rechel.
Ejections Drawn: Robinson, Heiber, K. Roslyn.
Saves: Mullins (12 svs., 5 ga)
Steals: Platshon (3), Masterson (2), B. Roslyn, Heiber, Ferring.
Sprints: Rechel (2-4).
Record: 14-16
