Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#12 Navy (ECAC Championship)
Bison Men's Water Polo Finishes Fourth at ECAC Championship
9/25/2005 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 25, 2005
PRINCETON, N.J. - Behind 13 saves from Trevor Mullins (Orinda, Calif./Palo Alto), the Bucknell men's water polo team limited No. 12 Navy to two first-half goals, and six in the game, but it was not enough as the fifth-seeded Bison fell to the third-seeded Mids 6-2 in the consolation game of the ECAC Championship Sunday afternoon at DeNunzio Pool.
Behind a defense that gathered in six steals, including a team-high three by Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin), to go along with Mullins' 13 saves, the Bison trailed just 3-2 entering the fourth quarter. However, Navy tallied three more goals in the final period en route to its 6-2 victory.
Bucknell, which was allowing an average of 9.2 goals per game entering the ECAC Championship, gave up just 15 goals in its three games this weekend. Mullins, who made 32 saves in the three games, was a key reason for the stingy defense.
The Bison struggled on the offensive side of the pool against the Mids as they managed just two goals and were held scoreless after halftime, mainly due to converting just 1 of 6 six-on-five opportunities in the game. Masterson and Nick Ferring (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis Country Day) netted the two Bucknell scores.
With the victory, Navy claimed third in the eight-team ECAC Championship field, while the Bison, who finished second last year, took home fourth place. Top-seeded Princeton and second-seeded St. Francis (N.Y.) will square off later Sunday afternoon for the title.
Bucknell will be back in Princeton, N.J., next weekend when it faces George Washington in a league game at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. The Bison will play a pair of league games at home Sunday, Oct. 2. They will face Princeton, a team they lost to in sudden death overtime Saturday night, and Salem International. The contest against Princeton will be broadcast live on WVBU 90.5 and www.SportsJuice.com by Bison Sports Network play-by-play man Doug Birdsong.
Third Place Game
BUCKNELL 1 1 0 0 -2
NAVY 1 1 1 3 -6
Goals: Masterson, Ferring.
Assists: None.
Ejections Drawn: Ferring (2), B. Roslyn, Heiber, Platshon, K. Roslyn.
Saves: Mullins (13 svs., 6 ga)
Steals: Masterson (3), B. Roslyn, Heiber, Metcalf.
Sprints: Rechel (2-4).
Record: 5-12
