Friday, November 16
Bronx, N.Y.
3:00 PM
Bucknell University
21
vs
6
La Salle
No. 15 Men's Water Polo Advances With 21-6 Win Over La Salle
11/16/2018 5:01:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
BRONX, N.Y.—The No. 15 ranked and top-seeded Bucknell University men's water polo team used 11 unanswered goals in the first and second period to advance to Saturday's semifinal round in the MAWPC Tournament after a 21-6 win against eighth seeded La Salle on Friday afternoon.
The Bison improve to 21-6 this season, and have now won five straight opening round postseason matches.
Bucknell used a 7-1 outburst at the beginning of the game to pull away and never look back. The fast start has been a theme all year for Bucknell, which is outscoring its opponents 103-53 in the opening period this season.
La Salle started the game brightly, forcing a turnover by the Bison before a field block by Jack Lewis helped nullify an early scoring chance for the Explorers just a minute into the game. Another power play opportunity for La Salle also came close just seconds later when Trevin Zweifel's shot hit the post.
However, some tough work in the center by Logan Schofield helped set up a penalty shot by Rade Joksimovic, who promptly capitalized to give the Bison a 1-0 lead at the 6:23 mark. The Explorers answered with a goal of their own just over a minute later to equalize, but it was all Bucknell over the remainder of the period. A 6-0 run by the Bison helped Bucknell to a 7-1 lead that it would never relinquish throughout the game.
Three goals from Joksimovic, two from Schofield, and a solitary goal from Lewis helped to spark the Bison run.
The Bison scored five more unanswered goals to start the second period and take an 11-goal advantage with 3:55 to go in the first half. The goals were scored by five different players with Joksimovic, Matt Blackwell, Mitchell Scott, Jared Stanley, and Caio Jordao each getting on the scoresheet. Marko Djordjevic added a goal with 1:54 left in the half to give the Bison a 13-3 lead at the break.
The Bison kept their foot on the gas in the second half, scoring four more times in each period to come away with a 21-6 victory. Overall, the Bison had 11 different goal scorers, with Joksimovic leading the way with six goals and four assists. Joksimovic has tallied at least nine points in all four contests against the Explorers in his career.
Djordjevic added a game-high five assists, while Jordao garnered his first ever multi-goal game for the Orange and Blue. The Bison registered 22 steals as a team.
Jack Otto made eight saves for the Bison in the cage.
La Salle 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 -- 6
Bucknell 7 - 6 - 4 - 4 -- 21
Goals: Joksimovic (6), Schofield (3), Lewis (2), Jordao (2), Blackwell (2), Little, Scott, Stanley, Jacuzzi, Djordjevic, Dolan,
Assists: Djordjevic (5), Joksimovic (4), Lewis, Dolan, Jacuzzi, Scott, Blackwell, Little, Otto
Ejections Drawn: Schofield (4), Little (3), Joksimovic (2), Scott (2), Lewis
Steals: Joksimovic (5), Jacuzzi (4), Lewis (3), Djordjevic (3), Fazekas (2), Little, Scott, Jordao, Dolan
Saves: Jack Otto, 8 svs., 6 GA, 32:00 min .
Sprints: Joksimovic (0-1), Lewis (1-2), Little (1-1)
The Bison will play host Fordham on Saturday at 4:30 for a place in the MAWPC Championship game.
The Bison improve to 21-6 this season, and have now won five straight opening round postseason matches.
Bucknell used a 7-1 outburst at the beginning of the game to pull away and never look back. The fast start has been a theme all year for Bucknell, which is outscoring its opponents 103-53 in the opening period this season.
La Salle started the game brightly, forcing a turnover by the Bison before a field block by Jack Lewis helped nullify an early scoring chance for the Explorers just a minute into the game. Another power play opportunity for La Salle also came close just seconds later when Trevin Zweifel's shot hit the post.
However, some tough work in the center by Logan Schofield helped set up a penalty shot by Rade Joksimovic, who promptly capitalized to give the Bison a 1-0 lead at the 6:23 mark. The Explorers answered with a goal of their own just over a minute later to equalize, but it was all Bucknell over the remainder of the period. A 6-0 run by the Bison helped Bucknell to a 7-1 lead that it would never relinquish throughout the game.
Three goals from Joksimovic, two from Schofield, and a solitary goal from Lewis helped to spark the Bison run.
The Bison scored five more unanswered goals to start the second period and take an 11-goal advantage with 3:55 to go in the first half. The goals were scored by five different players with Joksimovic, Matt Blackwell, Mitchell Scott, Jared Stanley, and Caio Jordao each getting on the scoresheet. Marko Djordjevic added a goal with 1:54 left in the half to give the Bison a 13-3 lead at the break.
The Bison kept their foot on the gas in the second half, scoring four more times in each period to come away with a 21-6 victory. Overall, the Bison had 11 different goal scorers, with Joksimovic leading the way with six goals and four assists. Joksimovic has tallied at least nine points in all four contests against the Explorers in his career.
Djordjevic added a game-high five assists, while Jordao garnered his first ever multi-goal game for the Orange and Blue. The Bison registered 22 steals as a team.
Jack Otto made eight saves for the Bison in the cage.
La Salle 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 -- 6
Bucknell 7 - 6 - 4 - 4 -- 21
Goals: Joksimovic (6), Schofield (3), Lewis (2), Jordao (2), Blackwell (2), Little, Scott, Stanley, Jacuzzi, Djordjevic, Dolan,
Assists: Djordjevic (5), Joksimovic (4), Lewis, Dolan, Jacuzzi, Scott, Blackwell, Little, Otto
Ejections Drawn: Schofield (4), Little (3), Joksimovic (2), Scott (2), Lewis
Steals: Joksimovic (5), Jacuzzi (4), Lewis (3), Djordjevic (3), Fazekas (2), Little, Scott, Jordao, Dolan
Saves: Jack Otto, 8 svs., 6 GA, 32:00 min .
Sprints: Joksimovic (0-1), Lewis (1-2), Little (1-1)
The Bison will play host Fordham on Saturday at 4:30 for a place in the MAWPC Championship game.
Players Mentioned
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
C
/ Men's Water Polo
C
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
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