Men's Water Polo Hosts Four Conference Opponents This Weekend

10/8/2015 10:08:00 AM | Men's Water Polo

By: TBD

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Nearly one month after its most recent home games, the Bucknell men's water polo team returns to Kinney Natatorium this weekend. The Bison will host four conference games against fellow CWPA Southern Division-East Region members. Three of the games will have free live video broadcasts via the Patriot League Network.

Bucknell (8-3, 1-1 CWPA) is ranked a season-best 13th nationally. The Bison were most recently in action Sept. 26 when they split a pair of games at George Washington (W, 14-12 in OT) and Johns Hopkins (L, 13-12).

This weekend's slate features Bucknell hosting George Washington (12 p.m.) and No. 11 Princeton (7 p.m.) on Saturday. On Sunday, the Bison will take on Johns Hopkins (11 a.m.) and Navy (4 p.m.). All but the George Washington contest will air live on the Patriot League Network.

The Bison are an unblemished 5-0 at home this season and are 70-31 (.693) all-time at Kinney Natatorium.

Thanks to this year's 8-3 record, Bucknell fifth-year head coach John McBride now has a 71-47 record as Bison mentor. He is tied with Mike Wooster (1995-99) for third place on the program's all-time wins list. Next up for McBride is second-place John Zeigler, who registered 134 victories in nine seasons.

Two-time Honorable Mention All-America selection Stefan Aleksic enters the weekend as Bucknell's top goal scorer with 23. The senior co-captain recently moved into 10th place in program history in assists with 135. He is just 19 goals shy of 10th-place Jack Else on that ledger.

Sophomore Jeff Hagen is also over 20 goals this year with 22. He also leads the team with 31 ejections drawn, putting him just seven shy of last year's total.

Sophomore Charlie Niehaus has started 10 games in goal and has posted a career-high 82 saves. He is just four stops shy of 100 in his career.

Three of Bucknell's four opponents this weekend have records of better than .500, led by Princeton's 9-3, 3-1 CWPA mark. Johns Hopkins (12-5, 3-1 CWPA) and Navy (7-6, 1-1 CWPA) also have winning records. George Washington is 3-14, 0-4 CWPA.

Bucknell seniors Stefan Aleksic, Jedd Thayer and Max Wilder will be honored during Senior Day ceremonies just prior to the start of Saturday evening's contest vs. Princeton.

The Bison will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 17, with a noon game at Navy. The contest will air live on the Patriot League Network.

Bucknell All-Time vs. Weekend Opponents
Bucknell vs. George Washington: 47-16 (Bison have won five consecutive matchups)
Bucknell vs. Johns Hopkins: 43-23 (Johns Hopkins won meeting two weeks ago by 13-12 score)
Bucknell vs. Navy: 21-81 (Bucknell won last year's season series 2-1)
Bucknell vs. Princeton: 34-38 (Princeton has won four of five meetings over last two years)

Bucknell in National Rankings in 2015
Preseason: t-No. 19
Sept. 9: No. 17
Sept. 16: No. 17
Sept. 23: No. 15
Sept. 30: No. 15
Oct. 7: No. 13

Bucknell's Weekly Awards in 2015
CWPA Player of the Week: Stefan Aleksic (Sept. 17)