Bucknell University
Washington & Jefferson
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Advances to Southern Championships Title Game with 13-11 Win Over Top-Seeded Navy
11/3/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Nov. 3, 2012
| BUY PHOTOS
LEWISBURG, Pa. -The Bucknell men's water polo team posted two wins Saturday, including a two-goal victory over top-seeded Navy, to advance to the title game of the Southern Championships. The Bison first took on Washington & Jefferson and dominated from the get-go scoring, seven first-period goals and winning by a score of 18-8. In the second match of the day Bucknell faced No. 14 Navy. Senior Brian Barron had a game to remember as his six goals and three assists led the Bison to a 13-11 victory over the Midshipmen.
In a back-and-forth game against Navy, Alex Nowlin scored at the 7:42 mark in the fourth period to give the Bison an 11-9 lead. The Midshipmen looked to score 30 seconds later but senior captain Matt Napleton made a superb one-handed save to deny the goal. Bucknell rode the momentum of the save and earned a five-meter shot shortly thereafter to go up 12-9.
Bucknell gave two goals back to Navy with the Midshipmen's last goal coming at the 2:19 mark, which brought the score to 12-11 in favor of the Bison. Barron capped off his six-goal night and the win with a goal to the lower left-side of the net with 1:18 remaining in the game to clinch the victory. Barron now has 50 goals on the season and 144 for his career. From there the Bison chewed up the clock to earn their first victory over Navy since September of 2011 and the first victory over a team ranked as high as 14th in the country since October of 2011. Navy was led by senior attacker Archie Warren's four goals.
Barron's nine points against Navy tied his career high and matched the most by a Bison in 2012. Nowlin chipped in three goals, while Sefan Aleksic added one goal and three assists. Napleton posted 14 saves, including many big ones in the pivotal fourth quarter.
In the earlier 18-8 win over Washington & Jefferson the Bison were led by Andrew Roberts' four goals. Bucknell jumped out to an early 7-0 lead at the end of the first period and led 12-1 by halftime. Washington & Jefferson scored seven goals in the second half but it wasn't enough to surpass the Bison.
Alongside of Roberts' four-goal game, the Bison saw goals from Jack Else (3), Jedd Thayer (2), Nowlin (2), Barron (2), Max Wilder, Andrew Somers, Stephen Norton, Max McKelvy and Mike Kimble. The team finished with 29 shots and 16 assists as second-year head coach John McBride substituted liberally with the Navy game less than three hours after the conclusion of the contest against the Presidents.
Bucknell will look to win its first conference championship since 1985 Sunday at 2 p.m. when it faces sixth-seeded Mercyhurst in the championship game in Kinney Natatorium. The Lakers upset No. 18 and second-seeded Princeton Saturday evening to advance to the title game. Fans can watch the contest on Bison Vision.
Game 1:
BUCKNELL 7 5 5 1 -18
WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON 0 1 4 3 -8
Goals: Roberts (4), Else (3), Nowlin (2), Barron (2), Thayer (2), Wilder, S. Norton, McKelvy, Kimble, Somers.
Assists: Somers (3), S. Norton (2), Wattana (2), Wilder (2), Hale (2), Aleksic, Colina, Barron, Thayer, Williams.
Field Blocks: Aleksic (2), Thayer.
Ejections Drawn: Else, Roberts.
Saves: Williams (11 svs., 8 ga., 24:00 min), Napleton (2 svs., 0 ga., 8:00 min).
Steals: Else, G. Norton, Somers, S. Norton.
Sprints: Thayer (1-1), Barron (1-1), Wattana (1-1), Wilder (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 13-13.
Game 2:
BUCKNELL 5 0 5 3 -13
NAVY 3 3 3 2 -11
Goals: Barron (6), Nowlin (3), Colina (2), Kimble, Aleksic.
Assists: Aleksic (3), Barron (3), Somers (2), Colina, Hale.
Field Blocks: Aleksic, Colina.
Ejections Drawn: Else (6), Aleksic, Colina, Barron, S. Norton.
Saves: Napleton (14 svs., 11 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Aleksic (3), Barron (2), Hale, Nowlin, Colina, Somers.
Sprints: Barron (2-4).
Bucknell Record: 14-13.
