Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Princeton
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Posts 9-8 Win Over Princeton to Earn Berth in Eastern Championship
11/4/2007 7:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 4, 2007
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Needing to win two games at the Southern Championships on Sunday to qualify for the Eastern Championship for the eighth consecutive season, the No. 17 Bucknell men's water polo team did just that. The Bison defeated Princeton 9-8 in the fourth-place game Saturday afternoon to clinch the berth in Easterns. Just four hours earlier, Bucknell had upended Mercyhurst 15-7.
Bucknell's win over Princeton was its third this season over the Tigers after defeating them just once since 1998 entering 2007.
While the Bison led throughout, Princeton had a chance to tie the game on its last possession in a six-on-five situation, but Bucknell's defense came up strong.
The Bison offense was well-balanced as Richie Hyden (Riverside, Conn./Greenwich), Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin), Jason Rechel (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and Alex Lampley (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) netted two goals apiece. With one goal, Josh Sunday (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) rounded out the Bucknell offensive attack. Kyle Roslyn (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) led the team with two assists, upping his career point total to 199.
Highlighting Bucknell's offense was its second perfect showing in extra-man opportunities of the weekend. The Bison were 5-for-5 after doing the same Saturday morning against Washington & Jefferson. Princeton was just 2-for-6 in extra-man opportunities.
On the defensive side of the pool, Masterson produced a team-high two steals, while seven other players tallied one apiece.
In goal, Miles Gilhuly (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) registered six saves.
With the victory, Bucknell improved to 18-12 this season, including 3-1 opposite Princeton. The 18 victories are the second most for the Bison under ninth-year head coach John Zeigler. Only the 2000 squad that went 21-21 won more since Zeigler took over in 2000.
With a 3-1 record this weekend, Bucknell is now 6-2 over its last eight games after losing eight of its previous nine.
The Eastern Championship, which takes place Nov. 16-18 at Harvard, is seeded by committee. The eight-team field will be seeded in the upcoming week. Last year, coming off a third-place finish at Southerns, the Bison were seeded sixth.
PRINCETON 2 2 1 3 -8
BUCKNELL 4 1 2 2 -9
Goals: Hyden (2), Masterson (2), Rechel (2), Lampley (2), Sunday.
Assists: Roslyn (2), Masterson, Rechel, O'Keefe.
Ejections Drawn: Lampley (3), Heiber, Rechel, Sunday.
Saves: Gilhuly (6 svs., 8 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Masterson (2), Hyden, Heiber, Rechel, O'Keefe, Sunday, Roslyn, Lampley.
Sprints: Rechel (1-3), Hyden (1-1).
Record: 18-12
