Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#12 St. Francis (N.Y.)
Fourth-Quarter Comeback Forces OT, But Bison Men's Water Polo Falls to St. Francis (N.Y.) 10-9 in Eastern Championship Title Game
11/18/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 18, 2012
| BUY PHOTOS
PRINCETON, N.J. - Playing in the title game at the Eastern Championship for the first time in nearly 20 years, the Bucknell men's water polo team nearly earned its first NCAA berth in 27 years, but a pair of six-on-five overtime goals by St. Francis (N.Y.) lifted the Terriers to a 10-9 victory over the Bison Sunday afternoon at Princeton's DeNunzio Pool. Bucknell (17-14) outscored St. Francis 3-0 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
The Bison, who earned a second-place plaque at Easterns for the first time since 1993, were outscored 4-1 in the third quarter and trailed 8-5 entering the final period, but Brian Barron and Stefan Aleksic scored goals for Bucknell in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to pull the Bison within one. Alex Nowlin's goal with 2:40 to play knotted the score for the fifth time.
Both teams had chances to win the game in the final minute of regulation, but both failed to convert on six-on-five opportunities. St. Francis, which earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship (Dec. 1-2 at USC), didn't even get a shot off before the shot clock expired on their man-up attempt.
Bucknell, which had won seven games in a row entering Sunday's contest, took the early lead in overtime as Jack Else netted his only goal of the game 30 seconds into the extra session.
The Terriers answered with a goal on their next possession to tie the score once again.
The score remained 9-9 entering the second of the two three-minute OT periods. St. Francis took the lead for good, though, when tournament MVP Marko Gencic skipped in a power play shot with 1:25 to play.
The Bison did have a chance to tie twice in the final minute on a pair of six-on-fives, but could not convert either. The second one came with just three seconds showing on the clock and a hurried last-second attempt was wide of the goal.
CWPA Southern Division Player of the Year Brian Barron led Bucknell with four goals, three coming on penalty shots. Alex Nowlin added two scores, while Else, Stefan Aleksic and Mike Kimble had one apiece. Matt Napleton recorded 10 saves in the cage.
"We played very well today," praised Bison second-year head coach John McBride. "This team has stuck to the game plan all year. They never quit and I am proud to say that I was able to coach them."
Following the game, Barron was named First Team All-Eastern Championship, while Napleton, Else and Aleksic landed on the second team. Aleksic garnered Rookie of the Tournament honors. Barron, who was a second-team pick a year ago, was the only repeat honoree for Bucknell.
Sunday's matchup featured the top seed from the South (Bucknell) and the top seed from the North (St. Francis). The Bison entered the game ranked 15th nationally, while the Terriers are ranked 12th. St. Francis won the only regular season meeting between the squads by an 8-7 score at September's Princeton Invitational.
