Bucknell University
George Washington
Men's Water Polo Splits League Games at George Washington and Johns Hopkins
9/26/2015 6:04:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
WASHINGTON, D.C./BALTIMORE, Md. – Jeff Hagen scored a career-high five goals, including a pair in overtime, to help the No. 15 Bucknell men's water polo team to a 14-12 victory at George Washington in the Bison's conference opener Saturday morning. It was the first of two games on the day for Bucknell, which lost a 13-12 decision at No. 17 Johns Hopkins later in the afternoon.
The win against George Washington (2-8, 0-2 CWPA) extended Bucknell's winning streak to six games. The Bison are now 8-3 overall and 1-1 in CWPA Southern Division play.
Hagen had a huge day for the Bison, totaling eight goals and 12 ejections drawn, including a career-high seven in the win over the Colonials.
Both games featured plenty of ejections as there were a total of seven players that were disqualified from the opener thanks to picking up three ejections. The nightcap featured six and one red card.
Sean Daley added three goals in the win, while Nate Hunter had two and Ratimir Babic totaled one goal and four assists.
The largest lead for either team in the opener until overtime was two goals. George Washington's Jack Kerwin knotted the score at 11-11 with 50 seconds left in regulation.
Borna Bolanca gave the Bison the lead for good on a six-on-five goal – his only score of the game - on Bucknell's first possession of overtime. Hagen scored two more times in the period to stake Bucknell to a 14-11 edge. The Colonials added one goal in the second three-minute overtime period, but could draw no closer.
Charlie Niehaus got the start in goal in both games for the Bison and totaled 24 saves in 70 minutes. He had a career-high 13 stops against George Washington.
Bucknell entered the Johns Hopkins (8-1, 2-0 CWPA) game 1-1 against ranked opponents this year. The contest was close throughout as neither team led by more than two goals the entire game. In fact, the two teams were within one goal of each other for a span of more than 27 minutes until Giovanni Cragnotti completed a 3-0 run by the Blue Jays with his only goal of the game with just under a minute to play. It made the score 13-11.
Bison Stefan Aleksic tallied the final of his five goals just 10 seconds later to make it 13-12. Bucknell did have one more six-on-five attempt in the closing seconds, but was unable to convert.
Ratimir Babic dished out three more assists, while Tommy Stupp had a pair of goals and an assist.
Bucknell will be idle next weekend and will return to action with four home games Oct. 10-11 against conference opponents. George Washington and Princeton will visit Kinney Natatorium on the Saturday of that weekend, while Johns Hopkins and Navy will visit on Sunday.
Game 1
BUCKNELL 5 3 1 2 3 0 -14
GEO. WASH. 5 1 2 3 0 1 -12
Goals: Hagen (5), Daley (3), Djordjevic (2), Hunter (2), Bolanca, Babic.
Assists: Babic (4), Aleksic (3), Daley, Stupp.
Ejections Drawn: Hagen (7), Hunter (5), Babic (3), Aleksic (2), Stupp.
Saves: Niehaus (13 svs., 12 ga., 38:00 min.).
Sprints: Stupp (2-3), Daley (0-3).
Bucknell Record: 8-2, 1-0 CWPA.
Game 2
BUCKNELL 2 2 5 3 -12
JOHNS HOPKINS 3 1 6 3 -13
Goals: Aleksic (5), Hagen (3), Stupp (2), Babic, Djordjevic.
Assists: Babic (3), Stupp, Moore.
Ejections Drawn: Hagen (5), Hunter (2), Babic (2), Djordjevic.
Saves: Niehaus (11 svs., 13 ga., 32:00 min.).
Sprints: Stupp (1-1), Thayer (1-1), Daley (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 8-3, 1-1 CWPA.
