Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#8 (D-III) MIT (Navy Open)
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Wraps up Navy Open with 14-4 Defeat of MIT
9/3/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 3, 2006
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin) scored three goals for the fourth consecutive game and nine Bison got into the scoring column as the Bucknell men's water polo team completed play at the Navy Open Sunday with a 14-4 victory over MIT. The Bison own a 3-1 record, with their only loss coming to top-ranked California, for their best start to a season since 2000.
Masterson again led the way for Bucknell with his three goals, but Jason Rechel (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), Chet Eimstad (Portland, Ore./Beaverton) and Johnny Stupp (St. Louis, Mo./Mary Institute) helped shoulder the offensive load with two goals apiece. Rechel and Stupp also produced one assist each to tie Masterson for team-high honors with three points in the contest.
Bucknell, which is ranked 17th nationally, and is expected to stay in the rankings next week, jumped out on top of MIT early and led 8-1 at halftime. That advantage extended out to 11-1 at the end of the third quarter.
The Bison defense was strong in the contest as they recorded 14 steals, including four by Josh Sunday (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley). Alex Lampley (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) added a career-high three steals to go along with three ejections drawn.
For the second time in three games goalie Luke Belenky (Kensington, Md./German School) made 11 saves even though he only played three quarters.
After a busy weekend at Navy, Bucknell returns home next weekend as it plays host to the Bucknell Invitational at Kinney Natatorium. A total of 11 games will be played over three days in the pool that hosted the 2005 NCAA Championship.
MIT 0 1 0 3 -4
BUCKNELL 3 5 3 1 -14
Goals: Masterson (3), Rechel (2), Eimstad (2), Stupp (2), Heiber, Anderson, O'Keefe, Sunday, Roslyn.
Assists: Heiber, Rechel, Schultz, Roslyn, Stupp.
Ejections Drawn: Rechel (3), Lampley (3), Masterson (2), Lovell, Heiver, Ang, Eimstad, Schultz.
Saves: Belenky (11 svs., 1 ga., 21:00 min.), Donahue (0 svs., 3 ga., 7:00 min.)
Steals: Sunday (4), Lampley (3), Rechel (2), Eimstad (2), Roslyn (2), Ang.
Sprints: Rechel (2-3), Stupp (1-1).
Record: 3-1
