Bucknell University
Navy
Men's Water Polo Advances to CWPA Championship Fifth-Place Game
11/21/2015 11:07:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In a rematch of the Southern Championships third-place game from two weeks ago, the No. 15 Bucknell men's water polo team posted a 15-13 victory over Navy Saturday afternoon at the CWPA Championship. The victory helped the Bison advance to Sunday's fifth-place game against St. Francis Brooklyn and enabled Bucknell to avenge its overtime loss to the Mids two weeks ago.
Thanks to Saturday's victory, Bucknell (18-12) reached its highest season win total since it posted a 20-13 record in 2007.
Borna Bolanca and Jeff Hagen scored three goals apiece to lead the balanced Bison offensive attack that is averaging 13.0 goals per game in three contests at this weekend's CWPA Championship. Eight different Bucknell players scored at least one goal in the contest. Stefan Aleksic added two goals and three assists.
The Bison had to overcome an early 2-0 deficit, but led 7-6 at halftime. Navy (15-12) led 9-8 at one point in the second half, but Bucknell reeled off three consecutive goals and led by as many as three goals (15-12) late in the fourth quarter.
Nate Hunter drew seven ejections for the Bison, equaling the most by a Bucknell player all season. It also equaled his career high.
Bucknell and Navy have now split four meetings this season with the winning team registering 15 goals in three of them. The four games were decided by a total of 10 goals.
The Bison, who are seeded seventh in the 12-team field, will aim for their 12th consecutive top-five finish at the CWPA Championship when they play St. Francis Brooklyn at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
BUCKNELL 2 5 4 4 -15
NAVY 2 4 3 4 -13
Goals: Bolanca (3), Hagen (3), Aleksic (2), Djordjevic (2), Babic (2), Hunter, Moore, Daley.
Assists: Aleksic (3), Babic (2), Bolanca, Moore, Wilder, Daley.
Ejections Drawn: Hunter (7), Babic (3), Hagen (2), Aleksic, Daley, Stupp.
Steals: Babic (4), Aleksic (3), Moore (2), Djordjevic (2), Daley (2), Hunter, Hagen.
Saves: Niehaus (7 svs., 13 ga., 32:00 min.).
Sprints: Daley (1-2), Stupp (1-1), Bolanca (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 18-12.
