Bucknell University
Harvard
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Advances to Eastern Championship Semifinals Thanks to 15-13 Win Over Harvard
11/16/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 16, 2012
***Thanks to Friday's win vs. Harvard, a fan bus will now be running to Princeton for Sunday's Eastern Championship contest. The bus will depart the Kenneth Langone Athletics and Recreation Center at 9:30 a.m. CLICK HERE for details.***
PRINCETON, N.J. –Alex Nowlin tallied four goals and three assists and Brian Barron added two goals and five assists as the No. 15 Bucknell men's water polo team held on to defeat Harvard 15-13 Friday in the first game of the Eastern Championship at Princeton's DeNunzio Pool. A 6-4 first-quarter advantage proved to be the difference for the Bison, who will face No. 20 Princeton in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Bucknell (16-13), the top seed from the CWPA Southern Division, defeated the Crimson (14-18), the fourth seed from the Northern Division, for the second time this year, although the first meeting was an eight-goal difference.
The Bison jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, which featured two goals from Nowlin, but had to overcome an 11-9 second-half deficit to earn their season-best sixth consecutive win. Bucknell is now in the Eastern Championship semifinals for the third time in the last four years and is guaranteed of a top-four finish in the eight-team field.
Nowlin's seven points equaled his season high, while Barron reached the seven-point plateau in a game for the fourth time this season.
Bucknell had four different players register at least five points in the game. Stefan Aleksic (3g, 2a) had five points as did Nick Hale (2g, 3a), joining Nowlin and Barron, who earlier in the day was named the CWPA Southern Division Player of the Year.
Bison goalie Matt Napleton made seven saves, boosting his season total to 309.
Prior to the game, three Bison learned they were members of the CWPA All-Southern Division Teams for a second straight year. Barron was named to the first team for a second straight year in addition to his Player of the Year citation. Napleton was also a first-team selection, while junior Jack Else was a second-team choice. A two-time First Team All-Southern Division selection, Barron is Bucknell's first-ever Southern Division Player of the Year. Napleton has also been on the first team two straight years, while Else made his second straight appearance on the second team.
Bucknell will attempt to advance to the Eastern Championship title game for the first time since 1993 Saturday when it take on Princeton. The Bison and Tigers have split their last four meetings, including both this year.
HARVARD 4 3 4 2 -13
BUCKNELL 6 3 3 3 -15
Goals: Nowlin (4), Aleksic (3), Hale (2), Barron (2), Else, Colina, Somers, Kimble.
Assists: Barron (5), Hale (3), Nowlin (3), Aleksic (2).
Field Blocks: Else, Aleksic, Hale, Barron.
Ejections Drawn: Barron (2), Else, Nowlin, Kimble.
Saves: Napleton (7 svs., 13 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Aleksic (2), Nowlin (2), Barron (2), Hale, Colina.
Sprints: Barron (3-4).
Bucknell Record: 16-13.
