Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#9 Princeton (ECAC Championship)
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Nipped by No. 9 Princeton in Sudden Death Overtime, 6-5
9/24/2005 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 24, 2005
PRINCETON, N.J. - Facing its sixth opponent ranked in the top 10 this year, the Bucknell men's water polo team got its closest to pulling off an upset when it fell to No. 9 Princeton 6-5 in sudden death overtime in the semifinals of the ECAC Championship Saturday night at the Tigers' DeNunzio Pool.
The fifth-seeded Bison, who defeated fourth-seeded Harvard 10-3 earlier in the day, fell to 5-11 with the hard-fought loss to top-seeded Princeton. Bucknell will face the loser of Saturday night's Navy-St. Francis (N.Y.) game for third place in the eight-team field Sunday at 12 p.m.
The Bison and Tigers played to a 2-2 tie at halftime, and the score remained tied 4-4 following regulation. Bucknell scored the go-ahead goal in the first three-minute overtime period, but Princeton evened it up again in the second overtime period, sending the game to sudden death overtime. Senior driver John Stover scored the game-winning goal in the first sudden death overtime period on a penalty shot that was awarded following an infraction by Bison senior Aaron Platshon (Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo School).
Senior goalkeeper Trevor Mullins (Orinda, Calif./Palo Alto) had an outstanding game for Bucknell with 16 saves, the second-highest figure of his career.
Brad Roslyn (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter School), who netted a team-high three goals in the win over the Crimson, scored two more against the Tigers. Jason Rechel (Columbus, Ohio./Thomas Worthington), Platshon and Kyle Roslyn (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter School) each tallied one goal. Rechel and Platshon recorded assists as well.
Despite the valiant effort, the Bison fell to 1-8 against ranked opponents this year.
Bucknell will try for third place in the ECAC Championship Sunday at 12 p.m. against the loser of the Navy-St. Francis (N.Y.) game. The Bison have finished higher than third place in the event just one other time, with that milestone coming last year when they lost to the Terriers in the championship game.
Game 2
BUCKNELL 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 - 5
PRINCETON 0 2 0 2 0 1 1 - 6
Goals: B. Roslyn (2), Rechel, Platshon, K. Roslyn.
Assists: Rechel, Platshon.
Ejections Drawn: Masterson (2), Heiber (2), Sunday (2), Platshon.
Saves: Mullins (16 svs., 6 ga)
Steals: Masterson.
Sprints: Rechel (3-7).
Record: 5-11.
