Men's Water Polo Heads West for Five Games at Santa Clara Rodeo

10/23/2014 4:22:00 PM | Men's Water Polo

By: TBD

Note: The Santa Clara Rodeo schedule was recently adjusted due to Concordia being unable to participate. The schedule referenced below is the current weekend schedule for Bucknell.

LEWISBURG, Pa. – A trip to California is on the Bucknell men's water polo itinerary for this weekend. The Bison have five games lines up at the Santa Clara Rodeo, marking the fifth consecutive season the squad will be participating in the tournament. Bucknell faces off against host Santa Clara on Friday, Air Force and Cal-Baptist on Saturday, and UC Davis and Fresno Pacific on Sunday.

Four of the five Bison opponents at the Santa Clara Rodeo are ranked in national polls – No. 12 UC Davis, No. 13 Air Force, No. 15 Santa Clara, and No. 19 Cal-Baptist. Seven of the 13 games this season for Bucknell have come against ranked opponents, including five of its past seven matches.

Bucknell (7-6 overall, 4-3 CWPA Southern Division) will enter the weekend with some momentum, having won three of its last four games, including the most recent 11-3 victory over Mercyhurst on Oct. 19. One more win would result in the Bison equaling their longest winning streak of the season (3).

Although Mercyhurst started the game with two quick scores, 11 unanswered goals by the Bison turned the tide. The 11-3 win was the largest margin of victory for Bucknell this season, and the three goals allowed were the fewest since September, 2012.

It all started with the defense, as the Bison tallied 17 steals and held Mercyhurst scoreless over a 29-minute span. Goalie Keegan Williams and center defender RJ Moore were unavailable to play, so freshman Charlie Niehaus started in net for the second time all season. In 24 minutes of play, Niehaus stopped a career-high eight shots, while Patrick McKenzie also made a save during his time in the fourth quarter.

Grant Curry fueled the 11 straight scores, as he tallied three goals over a two-minute span to give the Bison the 3-2 lead after one quarter. Bucknell never looked back from that point, and Curry finished the game with three goals and one assist. He now has six straight multi-goal games, and his 30 goals lead all Bison on the season.

Matt Bresnahan and Ratimir Babic each scored two goals, while Bresnahan dished out two assists himself. Jeff Hagen's goal kept alive his streak of scoring at least one goal in every game of 2014, and he now has 22 scores on the season.

Following the Santa Clara Rodeo, the Bison will have one final regular-season match against league foe Princeton on Nov. 1 before Southern Championships begin in Princeton, New Jersey, on Nov. 7.

Bucknell All-Time vs. Weekend Opponents
Bucknell vs. Santa Clara: 4-7 (Scored 10 goals in 2013 triumph over #19 Santa Clara)
Bucknell vs. Air Force: 5-6 (Fell to #13 Air Force 9-6 in most recent meeting)
Bucknell vs. Cal-Baptist: 1-6 (Sole victory came in 1999, 7-6)
Bucknell vs. UC Davis: 2-3 (Defeated UC Davis in 2010 and 2012 when they were ranked 11th and 16th, respectively)
Bucknell vs. Fresno Pacific: 1-0 (Bucknell scored 16 goals in rout 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