Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy
No. 13 Bucknell Men's Water Polo Advances to MAWPC Final with 7-5 Win Over Navy
11/23/2019 8:33:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Rade Joksimovic and Andu Vlasceanu each scored twice to guide No. 13 Bucknell men's water polo to a 7-5 win over Navy in the MAWPC semifinal round on Saturday.
The Bison trailed the Mids heading into the fourth quarter at Kinney Natatorium before goals by Vlasceanu and Logan Schofield lifted Bucknell to victory. Sophomore Jack Lewis also contributed to the win with one goal and one assist. The Mids were paced by a 5-goal outing for Isaac Salinas.
Salinas posted two of his five goals in the first quarter, but Joksimovic responded with a goal on a penalty shot that sparked the Bison's attack. It was the sixth goal for Joksimovic in the last two games.
The score was evened at two apiece early in the second when Vlasceanu scored on a Cooper Dolan assist. Vlasceanu returned the favor by providing an assist on a Lewis goal that gave the Bison their first lead of the contest minutes later, but Salinas tied it up for the Mids with his third goal of the first half, and the teams reached the halfway point even at 3-3.
Salinas opened the third quarter with back-to-back goals that gave Navy a 5-3 lead. Joksimovic added one for the Bison in the waning minutes of the third, this time unassisted.
The Bison entered the final quarter trailing 5-4, but Vlasceanu brought the match to a tie after catching an assist from Lewis and scoring his second of the evening.
With little time remaining, Schofield gave the Bison a 6-5 lead with what would eventually turn out to be the game-winning goal, sending the Bison to the MAWPC championship final. It was Bucknell's third win over Navy this season.
Bucknell now sets its sights on George Washington, which defeated Fordham 9-5 in the other semifinal game today. The Bison are 1-1 against the Colonials this season, including a 13-8 win back on Oct. 13. The championship game is set for 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at Kinney Natatorium.
Goals: Joksimovic (2), Vlasceanu (2), Schofield (1), Lewis (1)
Assists: Dolan (1), Joksimovic (1), Lewis (1), Vlasceanu (1)
Steals: Schofield (5), Dolan (2), Lewis (1), Stanley (1), Scott (1), Joksimovic (1), Vlasceanu (1)
Ejections Drawn: Schofield (4), Joksimovic (1), Lewis (1)
Saves: Touzot 10 saves, 5 GA
