Bucknell University
#3 California
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Falls to Pair of Ranked Opponents
9/9/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
PRINCETON, N.J. –The second day of the Princeton Invitational featured a difficult schedule for the Bucknell men's water polo team, which had to square off against a pair of ranked opponents Saturday. The Bison opened the day with a 20-3 loss to No. 3 California. Four hours later they jumped back in the pool against No. 18 Brown and came away on the wrong side of a 12-6 decision.
Freshman Stefan Aleksic was the only Bucknell (2-3) player to score a goal in each game Saturday. Mike Kimble registered the only multi-goal outing of the day with two scores against Brown. He also contributed one steal and a pair of ejections drawn, but the Bison could not overcome a 7-4 halftime deficit opposite the Bears.
Goalie Matt Napleton posted a pair of double-figure save outings that totaled 21 stops. He moved past Miles Gilhuly and into seventh place in program history with 372 career saves.
On Friday, Cal defeated No. 13 Princeton and No. 20 St. Francis by a combined 25 goals, showing just how strong of a team the Bears are.
Bucknell will wrap up the Princeton Invitational Sunday at 1 p.m. vs. Fordham. It will snap a string of three consecutive ranked opponents for the Bison, who lost to No. 20 St. Francis (N.Y.) in the waning moments Friday night.
Game 1
BUCKNELL 1 0 2 0 -3
CALIFORNIA 6 1 10 3 -20
Goals: Else, Aleksic, Wilder.
Assists: none.
Field Blocks: Colina (2).
Ejections Drawn: Aleksic, Kimble.
Saves: Napleton (10 svs., 7 ga., 16:00 min.), Williams (6 svs., 13 ga., 16:00 min.).
Steals: Napleton (2), Somers, Kimble, Williams.
Sprints: Barron (1-4).
Bucknell Record: 2-2.
Game 2
BUCKNELL 1 3 2 0 -6
BROWN 3 4 1 4 -12
Goals: Kimble (2), Aleksic, Nowlin, Colina, Barron.
Assists: Nowlin (2), Aleksic, Barron.
Field Blocks: none.
Ejections Drawn: Else (2), Aleksic (2), Somers (2), Kimble (2), Colina.
Saves: Napleton (11 svs., 12 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Aleksic (3), Barron (3), Nowlin, Somers, Kimble.
Sprints: Barron (2-4).
Bucknell Record: 2-3.
