Bucknell University
Brown
Hunter's Game-Winner Gives Men's Water Polo 8-7 Victory Over No. 13 Brown
9/11/2015 8:55:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Nate Hunter's game-winning goal with eight seconds remaining lifted the No. 17 Bucknell men's water polo team to an 8-7 victory over No. 13 Brown Friday evening at Kinney Natatorium. It was the first game of the weekend-long Bison Invitational.
An enthusiastic crowd witnessed a strong performance by the Bison, who improved to 3-2 on the year and defeated their second top-20 opponent of the young season. Bucknell led or was tied for the final 28:53 of the contest and its pressing defense limited the Bears (3-2) to just two first-half goals.
Charlie Niehaus was impressive in goal for Bucknell as he posted a career-high 12 saves, including eight in the first half.
Hunter's goal came at the conclusion of a six-on-five situation. He got the man-advantage started when he drew an ejection with 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Bison head coach John McBride immediately called timeout to set up the winning play. Bucknell's offense was very patient and just as the ejected player was swimming back into the action, Stefan Aleksic swing the ball to Hunter, who was perched just to the left of the goal and he fired it in for the winning score.
Ratimir Babic's steal at the other end of the pool guaranteed Brown would not get a final shot off.
Aleksic led the Bison with three points (2g, 1a) on the night, while freshman Marko Djordjevic also scored twice. Bucknell's largest lead in the contest was two goals. The score was tied three different times.
Four of the Bison's eight goals were scored in six-on-five situations and Babic added another on a five-meter penalty shot.
McBride earned his second win in six tries at Bucknell against Brown. The fifth-year Bison head coach was an assistant with the Bears for seven years prior to coming to Lewisburg.
The Bison improved to 66-31 all-time in Kinney Natatorium. They will play three more games and one exhibition this weekend at home.
BROWN 1 1 2 3 -7
BUCKNELL 3 0 3 2 -8
Goals: Aleksic (2), Djordjevic (2), Hunter, Bolanca, Daley, Babic.
Assists: Aleksic, Daley, Babic, Stupp, Niehaus.
Ejections Drawn: Hunter (3), Babic (2), Farmer (2), Aleksic, Bolanca, Wilder.
Steals: Aleksic (2), Babic (2), Niehaus (2), Daley, Hagen, Stupp.
Saves: Niehaus (12 svs., 7 ga., 32:00 min.).
Sprints: Daley (3-4).
Bucknell Record: 3-2.
