Bucknell University
#4 Stanford
No. 17 Bucknell Men's Water Polo Defeats No. 16 UC Davis on Final Day of Santa Clara Rodeo
10/21/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Oct. 21, 2012
SANTA CLARA, Calif. –An 11-0 run that spanned parts of three quarters propelled the No. 17 Bucknell men's water polo team to a 14-6 victory over No. 16 UC Davis Sunday afternoon to close the Santa Clara Rodeo. Earlier in the day the Bison, who went 2-3 at the three-day event, dropped a 14-2 decision to No. 4 Stanford.
Bucknell (11-13) bookended the Santa Clara Rodeo with victories as it opened the event with a win over No. 19 Santa Clara Friday evening.
The Bison fell behind the Aggies by a 4-2 score in the first quarter, but then reeled off 11 consecutive goals. By the time UC Davis scored again, Bucknell had built a 13-4 lead and virtually clinched the victory. The Bison were especially effective in the second quarter, scoring six goals in the first 5:38 of the stanza and holding the Aggies scoreless the entire period.
Stefan Aleksic was the standout for the Bison as he accumulated four goals and five assists, tying Brian Barron (8g, 1a vs. Navy on 10/13) for the most points by a Bucknell player this year. Julian Colina and Mike Kimble added three goals apiece as the Bison notched their third win this year against a ranked opponent.
Goalie Matt Napleton, who now has a career-high 252 saves this year thanks to 57 stops this weekend, registered 10 saves to boost his season save percentage to .532.
Earlier in the day Bucknell faced Stanford, the second top-five foe for the Bison in 2012. Aleksic and Kimble netted goals in that contest.
Bucknell will now turn its attention to the postseason. After one idle weekend the Bison will host the Southern Championships Nov. 2-4.
Game 1:
BUCKNELL 0 0 2 0 -2
STANFORD 4 3 2 5 -14
Goals: Aleksic, Kimble.
Assists: Somers.
Field Blocks: Aleksic, Colina.
Ejections Drawn: Nowlin, Wattana, S. Norton, Kimble.
Saves: Napleton (8 svs., 7 ga., 16:00 min.), Williams (8 svs., 7 ga., 16:00 min.).
Steals: Aleksic (3).
Sprints: Barron (2-4).
Bucknell Record: 10-13
Game 2:
BUCKNELL 5 6 2 1 -14
UC DAVIS 4 0 2 0 -6
Goals: Aleksic (4), Colina (3), Kimble (3), Barron (2), Else, Nowlin.
Assists: Aleksic (5), Nowlin, Colina, Somers, Barron.
Field Blocks: Aleksic (3), Nowlin (2), Hale, Barron, Kimble.
Ejections Drawn: Else (4), Colina (2), Kimble.
Saves: Napleton (10 svs., 6 ga., 32:00 min.)
Steals: Aleksic (2), Hale (2), Nowlin (2), Napleton (2), Somers, Barron, Barron.
Sprints: Barron (2-4).
Bucknell Record: 11-13
