Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#14 Princeton
No. 17 Bucknell Men's Water Polo Drops Hard-fought Game to No. 14 Princeton, 12-9
9/29/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 29, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Just five days after falling to Princeton 12-4, the No. 17 Bucknell men's water polo team almost made an impressive turnaround, but fell to the Tigers 12-9 Friday evening at Kinney Natatorium. The Bison and Tigers played to a 7-7 tie following three quarters, but No. 14 Princeton outscored Bucknell 5-2 in the final period.
Bucknell opened a two-goal lead in the first quarter, marking the largest for either team until the final minutes of the game. There were five ties before Princeton took its first lead at 7-6. The Bison, who fell to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in CWPA Southern Division play, never led again.
Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin) scored a team-high five points on two goals and three assists for Bucknell. Eric Vreeland led Princeton, which improved to 10-4 overall and 2-0 in CWPA Southern Division play, with four goals and a pair of assists.
Gabriel Heiber (Aventura, Fla./Miami Beach), who tallied a season-high three goals, and Alex Lampley (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin), who found the back of the net twice, helped Masterson on the offensive end. Kyle Roslyn (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter), the team's leading scorer with 31 points entering Friday, saw limited playing time. Masterson took over the team scoring lead with 35 points this year.
Luke Belenky (Kensington, Md./German School) was strong in goal for the Bison as he made eight saves and recorded one steal. Three of those saves came in the second quarter.
The difference in the contest was Princeton's success in six-on-five situations. The Tigers were a sparkling 5-for-7 with an extra man. The Bison were just 1-for-3.
Bucknell, which has suffered all five of its losses to ranked opponents, was trying to pull off an upset of Princeton for the second consecutive season. The Bison defeated the Tigers 12-11 in overtime last October, marking their first victory in the series since 1998.
Bucknell continues its busy weekend on Saturday with two more league contests. The Bison host George Washington at 2 p.m. and then take on No. 10 Navy at 8 p.m.
PRINCETON 1 3 3 5 -12
BUCKNELL 2 2 3 2 -13
Goals: Heiber (3), Masterson (2), Lampley (2), Rechel, Eimstad.
Assists: Masterson (3), Schultz (2).
Ejections Drawn: Lampley, Roslyn, Heiber.
Saves: Belenky (8 svs., 12 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Masterson (2), Schultz (2), Heiber, Rechel, Ang, Sunday, Roslyn, Belenky.
Sprints: Rechel (2-4).
Record: 6-5, 1-1 CWPA Southern Division
