Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Mercyhurst
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Splits with Mercyhurst, No. 12 Navy at Southern Championships
10/28/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 28, 2006
Southern Championships Schedule & Results
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Sean Robinson (San Marino, Calif./San Marino) netted a career-high five goals to lead 11 Bison who tallied goals as the No. 18 Bucknell men's water polo team defeated Mercyhurst 17-5 Saturday morning in its first game at the Southern Championships at Kinney Natatorium. The win earned the Bison a berth in the Eastern Championship by guaranteeing a top-four finish at Southerns. In their nightcap, with a berth in Sunday's championship game on the line, Bucknell fell to No. 12 Navy, 12-9, for the third time this season.
The Bison, who were actually seeded fifth in the nine-team field, cruised to their 13th victory of the season as they led the fourth-seeded Lakers 12-1 at halftime behind seven first-quarter goals. Robinson netted three of his goals in one 56-second span in the deciding first quarter. Alex Lovell (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Chadwick) and Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin) were the only other Bucknell players to score multiple goals as they each found the back of the net twice against Mercyhurst, which completed Saturday's busy day with a 1-2 record to fall to 11-8 on the season.
Bison head coach John Zeigler, who has guided the Bison to a 13-11 record this year, used his bench much of the contest as eight different players tallied a single goal.
Luke Belenky (Kensington, Md./German School) played the first half and made four saves while allowing just one goal. Freshman Nick Donahue, who had seen just over 40 minutes of action all season, played the second half and stopped four shots as well.
The win over Mercyhurst set up a rematch with No. 12 Navy in the semifinals for Bucknell. The Bison were 0-2 against the Mids this season, falling by 11-7 and 10-5 scores. Bucknell fought tough early, as the game was tied 3-3 at the end of the first period. In fact, the Bison took their only lead of the game midway through the first quarter when Josh Sunday (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) tallied his 17th goal of the season to put Bucknell up 3-2. Navy scored the next three goals and never relinquished the lead. The Mids (20-5), who finished the regular season undefeated in conference play, grew the lead to a game-high five goals at 12-7 before Robinson and Masterson scored in the final minutes to bring the final margin to 12-9.
With the help of three five-meter penalty shots, Masterson led the Bison offense against Navy as he registered four goals and a pair of assists. Dan Schultz (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) tallied a pair of goals. Robinson scored just once in the nightcap, but his six goals on the day matched Masterson for team-high honors.
Belenky stopped 10 shots against 27 Navy shots to bring his total for the day to 14.
With the loss to Navy, Bucknell will take on Johns Hopkins in the third-place game Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. at Kinney Natatorium. The Bison are 2-0 this year against the Blue Jays. With a victory Bucknell will wrap up its fifth third-place showing at the Southern Championships in the last seven years.
Game 1
MERCYHURST 1 0 2 2 -5
BUCKNELL 7 5 3 2 -17
Goals: Robinson (5), Lovell (2), Masterson (2), Heiber, Rechel, Ang, Sunday, Schultz, Stupp, Nelson, Doyle.
Assists: Lovell (2), Rechel (2), Anderson (2), Masterson, Sunday, Schultz, Roslyn, Nelson, Doyle.
Ejections Drawn: Lovell (2), Nelson (2), Lampley (2), Heiber, Rechel, Anderson, Stupp. Saves: Belenky (4 svs., 1 ga., 16:00 min.), Donahue (4 svs., 4 ga., 16:00 min.).
Steals: Lovell (2), Anderson (2), Eimstad (2), Schultz (2), Stupp (2), Robinson, Masterson, Heiber, Rechel, Sunday, Doyle.
Sprints: Rechel (2-2), Stupp (0-2).
Record: 13-10
Game 2
NAVY 3 3 4 2 -12
BUCKNELL 3 1 2 3 -9
Goals: Masterson (4), Schultz (2), Robinson, Heiber, Sunday.
Assists: Masterson (2), Heiber, Rechel.
Ejections Drawn: Heiber (3), Robinson, Rechel, Roslyn.
Saves: Belenky (10 svs., 12 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Roslyn (3), Masterson (2), Heiber, Rechel, Eimstad.
Sprints: Rechel (1-4).
Record: 13-11
