Sunday, March 7
Lewisburg, Pa.
3:30 p.m.
Bucknell University
11
vs
3
La Salle
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
No. 9 Bucknell Men's Water Polo Defeats La Salle 11-3 to Earn Second Straight MAWPC Title
3/7/2021 5:47:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The No. 9 Bucknell University men's water polo team earned its second-straight MAWPC Championship after defeating La Salle in the Championship game on Sunday afternoon. Bucknell, hosting its second-straight MAWPC Championship in Kinney Natatorium, broke open a one-goal game with 7:20 left in the second quarter, scoring seven unanswered goals en route to an 11-3 win.
Bucknell improves to 4-1 this season, and advances to the NCAA Tournament held from March 18, 20-21 in Los Angeles on the campus of the University of Southern California.
Bucknell shut out the Explorers for the final 23 minutes and 40 seconds of the contest after La Salle cut the game to 4-3 with 7:40 remaining in the second quarter. La Salle took its first and only lead at 2-1 with 3:31 left to go in the first quarter, but a nice no-look pass by Andu Vlasceanu found first year center Doruk Ozar, who scored the tying goal with 2:55 left in the first.
Bucknell scored two more goals, including a shot from senior Matt Blackwell with six seconds left in the first, to take a 4-2 lead. La Salle's third goal with 7:40 to go in the second quarter cut the Bucknell lead to one, but that would be the closest the Explorers would get as the Bison responded with two goals to end the half from Jared Stanley and Mitchell Scott.
Ozar managed both goals in the third quarter as Bucknell pulled away to an 8-3 lead. The first year from Istanbul, Turkey's four tallies were a career-best, and led the team on the day. The Bison used a number of field blocks and key saves from sophomore goalkeeper Adrien Touzot to stifle the La Salle attack in the second half, and offensively added three more goals in the fourth to upend La Salle for the second time in eight days.
Senior Scott Little scored two of Bucknell's final three goals, while fellow senior Kyle Poland converted a five-meter shot with five seconds left for Bucknell's final goal.
Touzot managed 12 saves on the day, a season best. Ozar scored four goals to lead all scorers, while Little and Matt Blackwell managed two goals apiece. Touzot's excellent effort in the cage helped the sophomore from Beirut, Lebanon to earn Most Valuable Player honors of the Tournament. Head Coach John McBride was named Coach of the Tournament, while Ozar earned Rookie of the Tournament honors. Blackwell and Vlasceanu were also named to the All-Tournament squad.
After not appearing in the NCAA Tournament since 1985 until last season, the Bison have now earned back-to-back berths in the tournament. Opponent and times will be determined on the evening of Sunday, March 7. .
Bucknell improves to 4-1 this season, and advances to the NCAA Tournament held from March 18, 20-21 in Los Angeles on the campus of the University of Southern California.
Bucknell shut out the Explorers for the final 23 minutes and 40 seconds of the contest after La Salle cut the game to 4-3 with 7:40 remaining in the second quarter. La Salle took its first and only lead at 2-1 with 3:31 left to go in the first quarter, but a nice no-look pass by Andu Vlasceanu found first year center Doruk Ozar, who scored the tying goal with 2:55 left in the first.
Bucknell scored two more goals, including a shot from senior Matt Blackwell with six seconds left in the first, to take a 4-2 lead. La Salle's third goal with 7:40 to go in the second quarter cut the Bucknell lead to one, but that would be the closest the Explorers would get as the Bison responded with two goals to end the half from Jared Stanley and Mitchell Scott.
Ozar managed both goals in the third quarter as Bucknell pulled away to an 8-3 lead. The first year from Istanbul, Turkey's four tallies were a career-best, and led the team on the day. The Bison used a number of field blocks and key saves from sophomore goalkeeper Adrien Touzot to stifle the La Salle attack in the second half, and offensively added three more goals in the fourth to upend La Salle for the second time in eight days.
Senior Scott Little scored two of Bucknell's final three goals, while fellow senior Kyle Poland converted a five-meter shot with five seconds left for Bucknell's final goal.
Touzot managed 12 saves on the day, a season best. Ozar scored four goals to lead all scorers, while Little and Matt Blackwell managed two goals apiece. Touzot's excellent effort in the cage helped the sophomore from Beirut, Lebanon to earn Most Valuable Player honors of the Tournament. Head Coach John McBride was named Coach of the Tournament, while Ozar earned Rookie of the Tournament honors. Blackwell and Vlasceanu were also named to the All-Tournament squad.
| Winter 2021 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Championship | |
| All-Tournament Team | |
| Most Valuable Player: | Adrien Touzot (Bucknell University) |
| Rookie of the Tournament: | Doruk Ozar (Bucknell University) |
| Coach of the Tournament: | John McBride (Bucknell University) |
| First Team | |
| Adrien Touzot (Goalie) | Bucknell University |
| Veljko Kotarica (Goalie) | La Salle University |
| Doruk Ozar | Bucknell University |
| Andu Vlasceanu | Bucknell University |
| Matt Blackwell | Bucknell University |
| Callin Chimilar | La Salle University |
| Cole Strohson | La Salle University |
| Daniel Domotor | La Salle University |
After not appearing in the NCAA Tournament since 1985 until last season, the Bison have now earned back-to-back berths in the tournament. Opponent and times will be determined on the evening of Sunday, March 7. .
Players Mentioned
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
UTL
/ Men's Water Polo
Center
/ Men's Water Polo
CD
/ Men's Water Polo
C
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
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