Men's Water Polo Ends Break with Sunday Home Game vs. Mercyhurst

10/17/2014 9:32:00 AM | Men's Water Polo

By: TBD

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Idle since Oct. 4, the Bucknell men's water polo team will play its second game of the season against Mercyhurst on Sunday (1 p.m.) at Kinney Natatorium. The Bison defeated the Lakers 12-5 back in mid-September behind three goals apiece from Stefan Aleksic and Grant Curry.

Bucknell (6-6 overall, 4-3 CWPA Southern Division) ended up leapfrogging Navy in the national poll after the 12-8 victory over the Mids two weeks ao. The Bison's No. 19 ranking last week was the first time they were ranked this season, while Navy fell out of the top 20.

The triumph against Navy was Bucknell's third consecutive home victory against the Mids, and the 12 goals scored by the Bison offense was eight more than their previous tally against Navy when Aleksic did not play. Aleksic assisted on four different goals this time around, and added another goal himself for a team-high five points. His four assists in the game gave Aleksic 103 in his career.

A trio of offensive pieces scored three goals apiece against the Mids, as Nick Hale, Ratimir Babic, and Jeff Hagen meshed well to pace the offensive attack. Hagen now has 21 goals on the season, third behind Aleksic (26) and Curry (27). Bucknell drew 11 ejections on the day

Keegan Williams stood tall in net, totaling nine saves in the match. His 373 career saves as a Bison puts Williams into eighth place all-time in program history, passing Miles Gilhuly (2007-10).

The four-goal win was the largest margin of victory against Navy since 1981, and Bucknell never trailed after scoring four goals in the first quarter. The victory marked the third win against a ranked opponent this season for the Bison.

Bucknell enters Sunday's game with an impressive home résumé. The Bison are 20-3 at Kinney Natitorium over the past three years and 64-30 all-time since the facility opened in 2003.

Despite not playing any games this past weekend, Bucknell actually dropped back out of the rankings, although it did receive some votes. Mercyhurst enters this weekend with a two-game winning streak and an 8-8 record on the season.

Bison head coach John McBride enters Sunday's game tied with predecessor John Abdou (2008-10) for fifth-most games coached at Bucknell with 93. McBride's 52 victories rank fifth in program history.

The Bison will head west following the Mercyhurst contest to participate in five games at the Santa Clara Rodeo on Oct. 24-26 in California.

Bucknell All-Time vs. Weekend Opponents
Bucknell vs. Mercyhurst: 10-1 (Mercyhurst's only victory came in 2013)

Bucknell's Weekly Awards in 2014
CWPA Player of the Week: Nick Hale (Oct. 9)
CWPA Rookie of the Week: Grant Curry (Oct. 2), Jeff Hagen (Oct. 9)

Bucknell in National Rankings in 2014
Week of Oct. 8: No. 19