Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Monmouth
Men's Water Polo Advances to Southern Championships Title Game
11/8/2014 8:19:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
PRINCETON, N.J. – For the fourth time in five years the Bucknell men's water polo team will be playing in the Southern Championships title game. The 12th-ranked Bison on Saturday at Princeton's DeNunzio Pool defeated Monmouth 16-1 to earn a spot in the semifinals and then knocked off Navy 14-13 to advance to the championship game once again.
Bucknell (15-7), which is 3-0 this weekend and has won 10 of its last 11 games, will take on top-seeded and ninth-ranked Princeton in Sunday's championship tilt at 2:20 p.m. The Bison last won the Southern Championships in 2012 at Kinney Natatorium.
After disposing of 10th-seeded Monmouth easily in the morning contest, third-seeded Bucknell had a hard-fought, high-scoring affair against the second-seeded Mids. The 14 goals equaled the second-most scored in a game this year by the Bison and it marked the second straight season Bucknell has had two wins against Navy.
The Bison led the Mids 8-7 at halftime after trailing by two goals at the end of the first period. The score was tied 12-12 entering the final quarter, but Bucknell outscored Navy 2-1 in that final period for the victory.
Grant Curry led the way for Bucknell, posting a career-high seven goals on 11 shots. It was the highest goal total for a Bison player since 2012. Stefan Aleksic and Jeff Hagen added three goals apiece in the win.
It was a banner day offensively for Bucknell, which entered the day averaging 9.8 goals per game this season. In the opening win of the day against Monmouth, Sean Daley and Jedd Thayer posted four goals apiece, while Aleksic and Brett Cleary each found the back of the net three times. Daley's seven-point game equaled Curry for the most by a Bison player this season.
Thanks to its performance this weekend, Bucknell has earned an automatic berth to the CWPA Championship, which will take place in two weeks in Annapolis, Maryland. The Bison have now qualified for the event 15 consecutive years.
Game 1
MONMOUTH 0 0 0 1 -1
BUCKNELL 7 4 3 2 -16
Goals: Daley (4), Thayer (4), Aleksic (3), Cleary (3), Moore, Hagen.
Assists: Wilder (4), Daley (3), Aleksic (2), White, Williams.
Ejections Drawn: Bresnahan, Cleary.
Saves: Williams (7 svs., 1 ga., 32:00 min.).
Sprints: Hale (2-2), Curry (1-2).
Bucknell Record: 14-7.
Game 2
NAVY 4 3 5 1 -13
BUCKNELL 2 6 4 2 -14
Goals: Curry (7), Aleksic (3), Hagen (3), Daley.
Assists: Daley (2), Hale (2), Aleksic, Babic.
Ejections Drawn: Hunter (2), Aleksic (2), Hagen (2), Curry (2), Moore, Daley.
Saves: Williams (4 svs., 13 ga., 32:00 min.).
Sprints: Hale (0-2), Curry (1-2).
Bucknell Record: 15-7.
