Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#16 Navy
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Drops Southern Championships Semifinal to Navy, 11-5
11/5/2011 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 5, 2011
PRINCETON, N.J. –The Bucknell men's water polo team was aiming for a second consecutive trip to the Southern Championships title game, but the third-seeded Bison could not overcome a slow start and lost to second-seeded Navy, 11-5, Saturday evening at Princeton's DeNunzio Pool. Bucknell will now play fifth-seeded Johns Hopkins for third place Sunday at 12:45 p.m., while the Mids will take on the host Tigers for first place on Sunday.
Bucknell, which is ranked 19th in the nation, split its regular-season series with No. 16 Navy with neither contest decided by more than two goals. However, the Bison were outscored 5-1 in the first half on Saturday and trailed by six goals after three periods.
Matt Napleton was strong in goal for Bucknell (12-9), registering 14 saves, his 10th double-figure save game this season. However, the Bison were just 2-for-10 on their six-on-five opportunities.
Jack Else led Bucknell with two goals in the team's second-lowest scoring output of the season. Julian Colina, Brian Barron and Mike Kimble added one goal apiece.
Despite their loss, the Bison clinched a spot at the Eastern Championship on Saturday thanks to a 14-1 victory over Penn State Behrend earlier in the day. It is the 12th consecutive time Bucknell will participate in the Eastern Championship.
The Bison have clinched a 12th consecutive top-four finish at the Southern Championships. With a win on Sunday they will post back-to-back top-three finishes for the first time since 2005 and 2006.
BUCKNELL 0 1 1 3 -5
NAVY 2 3 3 3 -11
Goals: Else (2), Colina, Barron, Kimble.
Assists: Caillouette (2), Nowlin, Barron, Kimble.
Field Blocks: Barron, Barnett.
Ejections Drawn: Else (3), Nowlin (2), Colina (2), Barron, Schwartz, Kimble, Reitz.
Saves: Napleton (14 svs., 11 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Caillouette (2), Colina (2), Barron (2), Somers, Barnett, Reitz, Napleton.
Sprints: Reitz (0-3), Richley (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 12-9.
