Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Penn State Behrend
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Advances to Semifinals of Southern Championships with 14-1 Win Over Penn State Behrend
11/5/2011 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 5, 2011
PRINCETON, N.J. –The Bucknell men's water polo team will be heading to the Eastern Championship for a 12th consecutive year. The Bison defeated Penn State Behrend 14-1 Saturday to earn a spot in the semifinals of the Southern Championships and guarantee a top-four finish at the event, securing an Eastern Championship berth. Twelve different Bucknell players netted goals against the Lions.
Bucknell, which is seeded third in the 11-team Southern Championships field and is ranked 19th nationally, led 8-0 at halftime over the 10th-seeded Lions, a team it had defeated by a combined 51-3 in the last two meetings. The Bison went 2-0 in bracket play, having opened up the Southern Championships Friday night with a nine-goal victory over sixth-seeded Mercyhurst.
Balanced scoring was the key for Bucknell (12-8), but senior co-captain Beau Caillouette (Newport Beach, Calif./Sage Hill School) and freshman Greg Norton (Boynton Beach, Fla./Saint Andrew's School) led the team with two goals apiece. Norton also posted two assists, giving him a team-high four points after entering the contest with just one career point (an assist vs. Fordham) in his career.
Ten of the Bison's 14 goals came from players who typically fill reserve roles, while eight of their 10 assists were registered by backups.
Backup goalie Keegan Williams (Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo School) played all 32 minutes after playing just 33:10 during the season's first 19 games. He posted a career-high eight saves and one steal in his first career start.
Bucknell had just three six-on-five opportunities and converted two. The Bison stopped Penn State Behrend (5-15) on six of the Lions' seven man-up chances.
Bucknell will play its semifinal game Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against No. 16 Navy. The Bison and Mids split their regular-season series 1-1 with each team winning on the road. Bucknell will be aiming for its second consecutive berth in the Southern Championships title game.
PSU BEHREND 0 0 1 0 -1
BUCKNELL 4 4 4 2 -14
Goals: Caillouette (2), G. Norton (2), Else, Nowlin, Richley, Colina, Wattana, Somers, Barron, S. Norton, Kimble, Fiske.
Assists: Barnett (3), G. Norton (2), Somers (2), Colina, Barron, Fiske.
Field Blocks: Barnett (2), Nowlin, G. Norton, Somers.
Ejections Drawn: Else (2), S. Norton, Kimble.
Saves: Williams (8 svs., 1 ga.,32:00 min.).
Steals: Richley (2), S. Norton (2), Fiske (2), Caillouette, Wattana, G. Norton, Somers, Williams.
Sprints: G. Norton (1-2), Wattana (1-1), Reitz (1-1).
Bucknell Record: 12-8.
