Bucknell University
Mercyhurst
Men's Water Polo Defeats Mercyhurst 12-5 to Improve to 3-0 This Weekend
9/14/2014 11:15:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Stefan Aleksic and Grant Curry scored three goals apiece to lead the Bucknell men's water polo team to a 12-5 victory over Mercyhurst Sunday morning at Kinney Natatorium. It was the third consecutive victory for the Bison, who improved to 3-0 during this weekend's Bison Invitational.
Bucknell (3-2, 1-0 CWPA) will wrap up its own invitational Sunday afternoon at 2:40 p.m. against Fordham. The contest will air live on Bison Vision on the Patriot League Network.
The Bison used a suffocating defense to defeat Mercyhurst as they totaled 21 steals and limited the Lakers to just 21 shots. Nick Hale led the way with five steals, while Aleksic registered four.
Bucknell led 7-1 at halftime and extended its advantage to as many as nine goals (11-2) after a Curry score with 1:56 to play in the third quarter.
Seven different Bison scored goals, but Aleksic and Curry led the way. Aleksic also added an assist as he saw his career point total eclipse 200, while Curry boosted his season goal total to 11, second on the team behind Aleksic's 17.
Sean Daley played a strong all-around contest with one goal, a team-high three assists, three steals, two field blocks, one ejection drawn and one sprint won.
While he didn't face many shots due to the strong defense in front of him, Bucknell goalie Keegan Williams recorded six saves in 24 minutes of playing time. Freshman Charlie Niehaus played the final quarter and posted two saves.
Mercyhurst (2-5) drew just one ejection the entire game and converted its only six-on-five chance. Bucknell was 3-for-7 on man-up chances and also had two penalty shots converted by Aleksic.
The win helped the Bison improve their all-time record in Kinney Natatorium to 62-29. They are 18-2 in the facility since the beginning of the 2012 season.
Sunday afternoon's contest against Fordham will be the final one of the weekend for Bucknell. The Bison Invitational – a two-day, 18-game affair – will wrap up with a 6:40 p.m. game between Washington & Jefferson and Salem International.
MERCYHURST 0 1 2 2 -5
BUCKNELL 3 4 4 1 -12
Goals: Aleksic (3), Curry (3), Hagen (2), Moore, Daley, Stupp, Cleary.
Assists: Daley (3), Williams (2), Aleksic, Babic, Stupp.
Saves: Williams (6 svs., 3 ga., 24:00 min.), Niehaus (2 svs., 2 ga., 8:00 min.).
Sprints: Daley (1-1), Hale (1-1), Curry (0-2).
Bucknell Record: 3-2.
