Bucknell University Athletics
No. 15 Bucknell Men's Water Polo Hosts Four Key League Games this Weekend
10/13/2011 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 13, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. –It will be a busy weekend for the Bucknell men's water polo team, but at least for once they don't have to get on a bus. After four weekends of road games to start the year, the Bison will finally get a chance to play in Kinney Natatorium this weekend when they host four key league games. Highlighting the weekend will be the celebration of the 1,000th game in program history, and Senior Day, both taking place Saturday evening against George Washington.
Bucknell, which at No. 15 in the nation is the highest-ranked East Coast team, will welcome No. 16 Princeton (Friday at 8 p.m.), Johns Hopkins (Saturday at 12 p.m.), George Washington (Saturday at 5 p.m.) and No. 17 Navy (Sunday at 11:30 a.m.) to Kinney Natatorium.
The first 25 fans to Saturday's contest against the Colonials will receive a free 1,000th-game t-shirt. Additional t-shirts will be available to purchase for $10. Also, prior to that game, the five Bison seniors – Nick Barnett, Beau Caillouette, Sam Fiske, Spencer Richley, and Daniel Schwartz – will be honored during Senior Day ceremonies.
The final game of the weekend, Sunday's matchup with nationally ranked Navy, will air live on Bison Vision
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Bucknell Men's Water Polo Notebook (8-2, 3-1 CWPA)
• Bucknell is ranked No. 15 in the nation this week. It is the highest ranking for the Bison since the week of Oct. 10, 2007. Bucknell is the highest-ranked team on the East Coast this week.
• Bucknell enters the weekend on a three-game winning streak.
• Bucknell is off to an 8-2 start this year. It marks the best start for a Bison team since the 2004 squad started 9-2. The 1999 squad also started 9-2.
• This weekend's games are Bucknell's only home contests this year. The Bison were scheduled to play at home Sept. 10-11, but the games were cancelled due to widespread flooding in the area.
• For the first time since the current league schedule format came into use in 2004, Bucknell has won three league road games. The Bison are 3-1 in league play with all four games on the road.
• Bucknell has defeated Navy, Princeton and St. Francis, traditionally three of the stronger teams in the East, this year. It is the first time since 1998 the Bison have defeated all three of those opponents in the same season.
• Bucknell is 3-0 against ranked opponents this year. The Bison were 3-10 opposite ranked foes in 2010.
• Bucknell is 67-4 in its last 71 games it has scored at least 10 goals.
• Bucknell enters the weekend sitting atop the CWPA Southern Division, East Region standings. The Bison are 3-1, while Princeton, Johns Hopkins and Navy are all 2-2. George Washington is 1-3.
• Bucknell has outscored its opponents 66-37 in the first half this year.
• Four-time CWPA Southern Division Defensive Player of the Week Matt Napleton enters the weekend eight saves away from 100 this year and six away from 200 for his career. He owns a .529 save percentage this season.
• Alex Nowlin has at least two assists in each of Bucknell's 10 games this year. He has a career-high 36 assists on the season and is more than doubling-up Brian Barron, who ranks second on the team with 16 helpers.
• Spencer Richley enters the weekend two points shy of becoming the third current Bison to reach the 100-point plateau for his career. The senior has nine goals and seven assists this season.
• Jack Else (23) and Mike Kimble (17) lead the Bison in ejections drawn. Each sophomore has drawn at least one ejection in all 10 games this season. Else is just four ejections drawn shy of his freshman-year total, while Kimble has already eclipsed his rookie-year figure by five.
• Friday's game against Princeton will mark the second consecutive matchup for the Bison and Tigers. Bucknell defeated Princeton 10-6 at DeNunzio Pool this past Saturday. Barron (CWPA Offensive Player of the Week), Napleton (CWPA Defensive Player of the Week) and Schwartz (Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week) were honored with weekly awards for their performances in that contest.
Bucknell's Weekly Awards in 2011
Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week
- Alex Nowlin (Sept. 5), Daniel Schwartz (Oct. 10)
CWPA Southern Division Offensive Player of the Week
- Alex Nowlin (Sept. 6, Sept. 20), Brian Barron (Oct. 11)
CWPA Southern Division Defensive Player of the Week
- Matt Napleton (Sept. 6, Sept. 20, Sept. 27, Oct. 11)
About Princeton (Friday at 8 p.m.)
• Princeton leads the all-time series 41-31.
• Princeton has won seven of last nine meetings, although Bucknell won the matchup this past Saturday.
• Princeton has lost six of its last seven games, all against nationally ranked opponents.
• Princeton is 11-7 overall in 2011 and is ranked No. 16 nationally.
• Five of Princeton's next six games are at DeNunzio Pool.
About Johns Hopkins (Saturday at 12 p.m.)
• Bucknell leads the all-time series 36-19.
• Johns Hopkins has won the last three meetings by a combined four goals.
• Bucknell holds a 12-6 advantage in the series since the beginning of 2006.
• Johns Hopkins is 10-8 overall and 2-2 in league play this year. The Blue Jays have lost five of their last six games since beating Bucknell on Sept. 24.
• Johns Hopkins will play at Princeton at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening.
About George Washington (Saturday at 5 p.m.)
• Bucknell leads the all-time series 39-12.
• Bucknell has won three of the last four meetings, including a 10-8 victory last month at George Washington.
• George Washington is 7-12 overall and 1-3 in league play this year. The Colonials have lost five of their last six outings, and seven of their last nine.
About Navy (Sunday at 11:30 a.m. – Bison Vision Broadcast)
• Navy leads the all-time series 74-16.
• Bucknell and Navy have split their last four meetings, 2-2.
• Navy is ranked No. 17 nationally.
• Navy is 15-5 overall and 2-2 in league play and has won seven of its last nine games overall.
Up Next
• Bucknell has only one other regular-season weekend left this year, Oct. 22-23 at the Santa Clara Rodeo. The Bison will play four teams ranked in the top 14 this week, including No. 1 Stanford.
