Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#13 Navy (Eastern Championship)
Bison Men's Water Polo Nipped by Navy, 8-7, in Eastern Championship Semifinals
11/12/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 12, 2005
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - After falling behind 8-3 early in the third quarter, the No. 17 Bucknell men's water polo team staged a furious comeback, but could not draw even as No. 13 Navy nipped the Bison, 8-7, Saturday night in the semifinals of the Eastern Championship.
Navy jumped out to a 3-1 first-quarter lead, and extended it to 7-3 at halftime. The Mids added the first goal of the second half for the five-goal advantage early in the third quarter. That was the last goal Navy would score as the Bison scored the final four goals of the contest, but could not draw even.
The key to the Bison comeback was a season-best 6 of 8 on six-on-five opportunities.
Aaron Platshon (Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo School), who tallied one goal and two assists in Bucknell's 6-5 win over Brown earlier in the day, registered a team-high two goals and added two assists. Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin), the team's leading scorer with 68 points on the season, contributed one goal and a team-high three assists. Four other Bison scored single goals to round out the offensive effort.
Trevor Mullins (Orinda, Calif./Palo Alto) made nine saves in goal and raised his season total to 242 and his career total to 700. He is just nine saves from his career-high figure of 251 that he accumulated in 2004. Masterson also helped the defensive effort with a team-high three steals.
The loss dropped Bucknell to 0-5 against Navy this season, although the last three contests were decided by just one goal apiece. The Bison also fell from contention for the automatic berth to the NCAA Championship, which will be held Dec. 3-4 at Kinney Natatorium. The winner of the Eastern Championship automatically advances to the NCAA Championship.
Earlier in the day Bucknell defeated Brown, 6-5, to advance to the semifinal contest. That win gave Bison head coach John Zeigler his 200th career victory as head water polo coach at Bucknell. He has 99 wins in seven years as the mentor of the men's program, while he has posted 101 victories as the head coach of the Bison women's team.
Bucknell will play the loser of Saturday night's St. Francis (N.Y.)-Princeton game for third place in the eight-team field Sunday at 12 p.m. If the Bison win that game it will be their highest finish at the Eastern Championship since a second-place showing in 1993. The last time they placed as high as fourth was 1998.
BUCKNELL 1 2 1 3 -7
NAVY 3 4 1 0 -8
Goals: Platshon (2), Robinson, B. Roslyn, Masterson, Rechel, K. Roslyn.
Assists: Masterson (3), Platshon (2).
Ejections Drawn: B. Roslyn (3), Robinson, Platshon, K. Roslyn.
Saves: Mullins (9 svs., 8 ga)
Steals: Masterson (3), B. Roslyn, Rechel, Platshon, Ferring, K. Roslyn.
Sprints: Rechel (1-4).
Record: 14-17
