Bucknell University
Washington & Jefferson
Men's Water Polo Opens Southern Championships with 18-9 Win over W&J
11/6/2015 7:45:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Sean Daley logged four goals and two assists and Jeff Hagen also hit the net four times to lead the 15th-ranked Bucknell men's water polo team to an 18-9 victory over Washington & Jefferson on the opening night of the Southern Championships Friday at Kinney Natatorium.
Ratimir Babic had a goal and four assists, and Nate Hunter, Stefan Aleksic, Marko Djordjevic and Tommy Stupp scored twice each for the Bison (15-9), who never trailed in the game.
It was 1-1 early in a fast-paced opening quarter when Stupp scored to give the Bison the lead for good. Just 19 seconds later, Daley scored the first of his three consecutive goals to help Bucknell open up a 5-1 lead.
The Bison held a 6-3 advantage after the first period, and then they poured in five straight goals to start the second quarter to take command. Daley's fourth tally of the night with 2:29 on the clock gave the hosts an 11-3 lead.
The Presidents (9-10) scored the final two goals of the half to get within 11-5, but they would get no closer than six the rest of the way. Hagen's 6-on-5 tally with 4:52 left gave Bucknell its largest lead of the night at 18-8.
Bucknell outshot W&J 32-26. Bison goalie Charlie Niehaus recorded eight saves, and four of the nine Presidents' goals against came with a man advantage.
The Bison will continue pool play on Saturday morning against Penn State Behrend at 9 a.m.
W&J 3 2 2 2 - 9
BUCKNELL 6 5 4 3 - 18
Goals: Daley (4), Hagen (4), Hunter (2), Aleksic (2), Djordjevic (2), Stupp (2), Babic, Farmer.
Assists: Babic (4), Moore (2), Wilder (2), Daley (2), Hunter, Coleman, Farmer.
Ejections Drawn: Hagen (3), Hunter.
Steals: Daley (3), Stupp (3), Hunter (2), Moore (2), Babic (2), Aleksic, Djordjevic, Niehaus.
Saves: Niehaus (8 svs., 9 ga., 32:00 min.).
Sprints: Stupp (2-2), Daley (1-1), White (1-1).
Bucknell Record: 15-9.
