Men's Water Polo Goes 1-1 on First Full Day of Bison Invite

LEWISBURG, Pa. -Thirteen different Bison scored goals and Bucknell extended its home winning streak to seven games as it defeated Salem International by a 19-4 score in men's water polo action Saturday afternoon in Kinney Natatorium. However, just a few hours later the No. 15 Bison took on Mercyhurst and dropped a 9-8 decision to fall to 4-1 on the season. It was just the second loss for Bucknell in its last 13 games, dating back to 2012.

Bison third-year coach John McBride was able to use his entire roster in the win over Salem International. Stefan Aleksic tallied a team-high four goals. Six different freshmen combined for seven goals and 15 different players registered at least one point in the contest that featured Bucknell building an 11-3 halftime advantage. All eight second-half goals were scored by first- or second-year players.

The Bison are now 19-3 all-time against the Tigers.

The nightcap was a rematch of last November's Southern Championships title game that featured Bucknell defeating a surprising Mercyhurst squad 9-4 in Kinney Natatorium. This time, however, the Lakers came out on top in a very tight game that was tied four times in the final 18 minutes of play. Mercyhurst's Brett Luehmann scored what proved to be the winning goal with 2:45 to play. It was his fifth score of the contest and capped a day in which he became the program's all-time leading goal scorer.

Julian Colina led Bucknell with a career high-tying four goals and two assists, while Aleksic added one goal and three assists. Colina tallied once in each quarter and now has 11 goals on the season to lead the team.

Jack Else had another strong day drawing ejections, totaling nine in the two games. He now has 22 on the season.

Bucknell will wrap up play at the Bison Invite on Sunday with an exhibition game vs. Toronto at 9 a.m. and a regular-season contest against Fordham at 2 p.m. that will air live on Bison Vision on the Patriot League Network.

Game 1
SALEM INTERNATIONAL 1�� 2�� 1�� 0�� -4
BUCKNELL�� 4� �7� �4� �4� �-19

Goals: Aleksic (4), Bresnahan (2), Hunter (2), Kimble (2), Wilder, Colina, Moore, Somers, Babic, Thayer, Norton, Daley, Cleary.
Assists: Nowlin (3), Wilder (3), Babic (2), Daley (2), Cleary (2), Aleksic, Bresnahan, McKenzie.
Field Blocks: Else, Aleksic, Hale, Thayer.
Ejections Drawn: Else (4), Hunter (2), Kimble (2).
Saves: Williams (4 svs., 3 ga., 16:00 min.), McKenzie (6 svs., 1 ga., 16:00 min.)
Steals: Daley (5), Aleksic (2), Else, Bresnahan, Thayer.
Sprints: Moore (2-2), Bresnahan (1-1), Hale (1-1).
Bucknell Record: 4-0.

Game 2
MERCYHURST�� 3�� 1�� 3�� 2�� -9
BUCKNELL�� 1� �3� �2� �2� �-8

Goals: Colina (4), Aleksic, Hale, Nowlin, Babic.
Assists: Aleksic (3), Colina (2), Moore, Daley, Williams.
Field Blocks: Else, Aleksic, Hale.
Ejections Drawn: Else (5), Kimble (2), Aleksic, Babic.
Saves: Williams (10 svs., 9 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Aleksic (3), Nowlin (2), Hale, Moore, Kimble.
Sprints: Moore (1-2), Babic (0-1), Hale (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 4-1.