Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#15 Princeton (Eastern Championship)
Bucknell Falls to Princeton, 10-4, to Finish Fourth at Men's Water Polo Eastern Championship
11/13/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 13, 2005
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - For the second straight game a valiant comeback came up short for the Bucknell men's water polo team. The No. 17 Bison, who cut a five-goal deficit to just one against Navy Saturday, fell behind Princeton 3-0 in the first quarter, and clawed back to a 5-4 gap late in the third quarter, but lost to the Tigers, ranked 15th in the nation, 10-4, Sunday in the third-place game at the Eastern Championship. Bucknell's fourth-place showing was its best since the same finish in 1998.
Facing Princeton for the fourth time this season, the Bison, who upset the Tigers 12-11 in overtime at Kinney Natatorium earlier this year, fell behind early. However, their offense, which launched 33 shots, stormed back with two goals in the second quarter and two more in the third to cut the gap to 5-4 with 2:26 left in the period. Princeton, which is averaging nearly nine goals per game, tacked on five consecutive goals en route to its 21st win of the year.
The Tigers, who won the Eastern Championship at Bucknell's Kinney Natatorium last year, finished their 2005 campaign with a 21-10 record. The Bison wrapped up their season with a 14-18 mark, but faced 17 opponents ranked in the top 20. Bucknell posted just a 2-15 mark against those ranked foes.
Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin) led the Bison offense with two goals, while senior Nick Ferring (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis Country Day) and Kyle Roslyn (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) scored one goal each. Brad Roslyn (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) tallied the lone assist for Bucknell. Masterson completed the season with a team-high 48 goals and 70 points, while Ferring's goal was his 20th of the season and Roslyn's was his 30th. The downside for the Bucknell offense was a 2-for-12 showing in six-on-five opportunities.
Trevor Mullins (Orinda, Calif./Palo Alto) made six saves in goal for the Bison, raising his season total to 248, three shy of his career-high figure of 251 from 2004. He finished the season with a career-best .519 save percentage.
The winner of the Eastern Championship receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship, which will be held Dec. 3-4 at Kinney Natatorium. No. 12 St. Francis (N.Y.) and No. 13 Navy, which defeated Bucknell in Saturday's semifinals, will square off Sunday afternoon in the title game.
BUCKNELL 0 2 2 0 -4
PRINCETON 3 1 3 3 -10
Goals: Masterson (2), Ferring, K. Roslyn.
Assists: B. Roslyn.
Ejections Drawn: B. Roslyn (3), Heiber (3), Robinson, Platshon, Ferring.
Saves: Mullins (6 svs., 10 ga)
Steals: Platshon (3), K. Roslyn (3), Robinson, Masterson.
Sprints: Rechel (0-4).
Record: 14-18
