Bucknell University
Harvard
No. 17 Men's Water Polo Caps 2-0 Day with Win Over No. 10 Harvard
10/13/2018 5:41:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The No. 17 ranked Bucknell University men's water polo team capped off a 2-0 day at the Harvard Invitational with a narrow 17-16 win over host Harvard.
Bucknell jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Rade Joksimovic and Jared Stanley each netted a goal in the first minute of the game.
Harvard answered back quickly with two goals of its own to tie the game at two.
The theme would continue throughout the rest of the game as neither team held more than a three-goal advantage over the other throughout the rest of the contest.
Bucknell extended its lead to 6-4 with 30 seconds left in the first half after Joksimovic netted again with an assist from Stanley, but the Crimson scored just 20 seconds later as the Bison took a 6-5 advantage at the end of the first period.
Bucknell looked to pull away in the second quarter after taking its biggest lead of the game at 8-5, but Harvard responded with three straight goals of its own to tie the game at eight.
A goal from Joksimovic with 20 seconds left in the half gave the Bison a 10-9 lead at the break.
Bucknell once again managed to garner a two-goal advantage with 2:44 to go in the third period after Marko Djordjevic scored on an assist from Cooper Dolan. The goal would be the last of the period as the Bison took a 13-11 lead into the final quarter.
A goal with 3:39 to go in the fourth from Joksimovic gave the Bison a 16-14 lead, but the Crimson tied things up with two quick goals by Nathan Ondracek and Charlie Owens just 22 seconds apart to tie the game at 16.
After a turnover from the Bison and a shot that hit the post for Harvard, Cooper Dolan fired what would be the game-winning goal with just 1:30 on the clock.
Harvard looked to find a tying goal with 44 seconds remaining, but goal keeper Jack Otto came up with a big save to deny the Crimson's Dennis Blyashov a late equalizer. Stanley then forced a turnover from the Crimson with a steal and Bucknell was able to run out the clock for its seventh straight win.
Joksimovic led the Bison with six goals and five assists, while Stanley and Djordjevic each had four goals apiece. Dolan added two goals and Logan Schofield recorded the other tally for the Orange and Blue.
Djordjevic added a season-best six steals.
HARVARD 5 4 2 5 - 16
BUCKNELL 6 4 3 4 - 17
Goals: Joksimovic (6), Djordjevic (4), Stanley (4), Dolan (2), Schofield
Assists: Joksimovic (5), Dolan (3), Djordjevic (2), Stanley, Lewis
Ejections Drawn: Schofield (4), Scott (2), Joksimovic (2)
Steals: Djordjevic (6), Joksimovic (5), Dolan (2), Jacuzzi, Stanley, Scott
Saves: Jack Otto, 3 svs., 16 GA, 32:00 min.
Sprints: Joksimovic (1-2), Lewis (2-2)
