Bucknell University
#20 Johns Hopkins
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Splits with Johns Hopkins and George Washington at ECAC Championship, Will Play for Fifth Place Sunday
9/19/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 19, 2009
PRINCETON, N.J. – Richie Hyden (Melbourne, Australia/Greenwich (Conn.)) equaled his career high with five goals, but a late offensive foul cost the Bucknell men's water polo team a chance to tie the score as it lost to No. 20 Johns Hopkins 11-10 in its opening game at the ECAC Championship Saturday. The Bison bounced back to defeat George Washington 15-7 in the evening and advance to Sunday's fifth-place game against Fordham.
The Bucknell-Johns Hopkins contest featured the fifth ranked opponent the Bison have faced this season and was close throughout. The Bison led 6-5 at the half and the score was tied 8-8 at the end of three quarters. The Blue Jays opened an 11-10 lead, but Bucknell had a chance to tie in the final 30 seconds. However, an offensive foul was whistled and Johns Hopkins ran out the clock.
Hyden, who was one of six Bison to net two goals in the nightcap, led the way with five goals. It marked the seventh time in his career he has netted five goals in a game. Sean Coghlan (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) and Johnny Stupp (St. Louis, Mo./Mary Institute) added two scores apiece.
Nick Donahue (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lawrenceville) played a solid game in goal with a season-high eight saves, a team-high three steals and a team-high two assists. Overall, the Bison tallied a season-high 13 thefts.
In addition to his five goals, Hyden drew five ejections. Bucknell ended the first contest with 10 six-on-five opportunities.
In the nightcap, Bucknell's offense took over as it equaled its season high with 15 goals. Andrew Nelson (Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes), Spencer Richley (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor), Hyden, Howie Kalter (Durham, N.H./Phillips Academy Andover), Paul Reamey (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) and Stupp each registered two goals. Kalter added a season-high three assists, coming up one point shy of his career high in that category.
The Bison used a strong second half to upend the Colonials, who were seeded eighth in the 10-team field. Bucknell outscored George Washington 8-2 over the final two periods.
Donahue led the fourth-seeded Bison's defense again, registering six saves over the first three quarters. He gave way to Matt Napleton (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) in the fourth and he stopped one shot.
Bucknell will wrap up the ECAC Championship Sunday at 12:30 p.m. against seventh-seeded Fordham. A win will mark the sixth consecutive year the Bison have finished in the top five at the event.
Game 1
BUCKNELL 3 3 2 2 -10
JOHNS HOPKINS 1 4 3 3 -11
Goals: Hyden (5), Coghlan (2), Stupp (2), Kalter.
Assists: Donahue (2), Nelson, Coghlan, Caillouette, Ang, Reamey, Stupp.
Field Blocks: Caillouette, Hyden, Kalter, Stupp.
Ejections Drawn: Hyden (5), Stupp (2), Coghlan, Caillouette, Ang.
Saves: Donahue (8 svs., 11 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Donahue (3), Nelson (2), Kalter (2), Stupp (2), Hyden, Reamey, Schwartz, Barnett.
Sprints: Nelson (0-3), Barron (0-1).
Record: 4-5
Game 2
GEORGE WASHINGTON 3 2 0 2 -7
BUCKNELL 6 1 4 4 -15
Goals: Nelson (2), Richley (2), Hyden (2), Kalter (2), Reamey (2), Stupp (2), Caillouette, Barron, Barnett.
Assists: Kalter (3), Caillouette, Richley, Hyden.
Field Blocks: Schwartz.
Ejections Drawn: Caillouette (2), Hyden, Kalter, Ang, Reamey, Stupp.
Saves: Donahue (6 svs., 5 ga., 24:00 min.), Napleton (1 svs., 2 ga., 8:00 min.)
Steals: Barnett (2), Richley, Stupp.
Sprints: Barron (2-2), Hyden (1-1), Coghlan (0-1).
Record: 5-5
