Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#2 Cal
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Falls 11-7 to No. 2 Cal After Strong Start
9/1/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 1, 2007
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The No. 18 Bucknell men's water polo team jumped out to a 3-2 first-quarter lead against No. 2 California, but relinquished the early advantage as it fell by an 11-7 score Saturday afternoon at the Navy Labor Day Open in its season opener. Seniors Mark Masterson (Kihei, Hawaii/Marin) and Jason Rechel (Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), along with freshman Richie Hyden (Riverside, Conn./Greenwich) led the Bison with two goals apiece.
Bucknell, which has faced a top-six opponent on the first day of the season in three of the last four years, jumped out to that 3-2 lead, but did not net another goal until the fourth quarter as defending national champion Cal tallied seven goals in the second quarter and two more in the third.
Randy Ang (Hillsborough, Calif./Sacred Heart) joined Masterson, Rechel and Hyden in the scoring column with one goal. Rechel's first score was the 100th of his career.
Bucknell used all three of its goalies in the game as Luke Belenky (Kensington, Md./German School) started and played the first quarter, Nick Donahue (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lawrenceville) played the second frame and Miles Gilhuly (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) played the entire second half. Belenky registered a team-high four saves and allowed just two goals. Likewise, Gilhuly gave up just a pair of goals.
The Bison, who had lost to Cal by nine goals each of the last two years, will continue play at the Navy Labor Day Open Saturday afternoon against No. 13 Pacific. The game is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m., although the schedule was running about 45 minutes behind.
BUCKNELL 3 0 0 4 -7
CALIFORNIA 2 7 2 0 -11
Goals: Masterson (2), Hyden (2), Rechel (2), Ang.
Assists: Roslyn.
Ejections Drawn: Heiber (3), Rechel, O'Kefe, Roslyn.
Saves: Belenky (4 svs., 2 ga., 8:00 min.), Donahue (2 svs., 7 ga., 8:00 min.), Gilhuly (3 svs., 2 ga., 16:00 min.)
Steals: Gilhuly (3), Masterson, Ang, Roslyn, Stupp, Lampley, Doyle.
Sprints: Rechel (3-4).
Record: 0-1
