Sunday, November 20
Bronx, N.Y.
3 p.m.
Bucknell University
7
at
14
Fordham
Photo by: Christine Yardley
Late Surge Lifts Fordham Over Bucknell Men's Water Polo in MAWPC Championship Game
11/20/2022 8:58:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
BRONX, N.Y. – The Bucknell University men's water polo team fell 14-7 to host and No. 1 seed Fordham in the MAWPC Championship game on Saturday afternoon. The Bison pulled within one goal in the third on back-to-back goals by Aleksa Stefanovic to make the score 7-6, but Fordham finished the game on a 7-1 run to secure its second straight MAWPC Championship.
Bucknell started brightly, scoring the opening goal of the game after drawing an early exclusion before Doruk Ozar fought in the middle to receive a pass before firing in the opening goal just 30 seconds into the game. Fordham tied the game two minutes later, before another exclusion drawn by Ozar set up another powerplay opportunity for the Bison, this time converted by Andu Vlasceanu on a shot from the top center of the area. The Bison created many opportunities from the powerplay in the opening minutes, including two hard shots from Jack Lewis that hit the woodwork.
However, Fordham ended the half by scoring two goals just 30 seconds apart in quick response to Vlasceanu's goal, extending that run with three more unanswered goals to start the second to take a 6-2 lead with 3:20 in the first half. The Bison buckled down to close the half, chipping away at the Fordham lead and limiting the Rams to just one goal while Aleksa Stefanovic and Matt Ryckman, the latter on a nice redirect on a pass from Shay Gillearn, each scored to trail 7-4 at the half.
Both teams failed to find the cage until the 3:12 mark of the third, when Stefanovic scored two goals in quick succession just over a minute apart to pull the Bison within two, 7-6, with 2:23 to go in the period. The Rams responded well to the Bison run, scoring two unanswered goals of their own to take a 9-6 lead with one quarter to play. Fordham kept its foot on the gas in the fourth, outscoring Bucknell 5-1 in the period to secure its second straight MAWPC title. The lone Bison goal in the fourth quarter was also scored by Vlasceanu, who was one of six seniors who participated in their final game for the Orange and Blue along with senior goalkeeper Adrien Touzot, Colby Paine, Will Gildea, Josh Yardley, and Lewis.
Stefanovic led the Bison with three goals while Vlasceanu added a pair of tallies. Ryckman and Ozar, accounted for Bucknell's other goals. A. Touzot made nine saves in the cage for the Bison.
Bucknell started brightly, scoring the opening goal of the game after drawing an early exclusion before Doruk Ozar fought in the middle to receive a pass before firing in the opening goal just 30 seconds into the game. Fordham tied the game two minutes later, before another exclusion drawn by Ozar set up another powerplay opportunity for the Bison, this time converted by Andu Vlasceanu on a shot from the top center of the area. The Bison created many opportunities from the powerplay in the opening minutes, including two hard shots from Jack Lewis that hit the woodwork.
However, Fordham ended the half by scoring two goals just 30 seconds apart in quick response to Vlasceanu's goal, extending that run with three more unanswered goals to start the second to take a 6-2 lead with 3:20 in the first half. The Bison buckled down to close the half, chipping away at the Fordham lead and limiting the Rams to just one goal while Aleksa Stefanovic and Matt Ryckman, the latter on a nice redirect on a pass from Shay Gillearn, each scored to trail 7-4 at the half.
Both teams failed to find the cage until the 3:12 mark of the third, when Stefanovic scored two goals in quick succession just over a minute apart to pull the Bison within two, 7-6, with 2:23 to go in the period. The Rams responded well to the Bison run, scoring two unanswered goals of their own to take a 9-6 lead with one quarter to play. Fordham kept its foot on the gas in the fourth, outscoring Bucknell 5-1 in the period to secure its second straight MAWPC title. The lone Bison goal in the fourth quarter was also scored by Vlasceanu, who was one of six seniors who participated in their final game for the Orange and Blue along with senior goalkeeper Adrien Touzot, Colby Paine, Will Gildea, Josh Yardley, and Lewis.
Stefanovic led the Bison with three goals while Vlasceanu added a pair of tallies. Ryckman and Ozar, accounted for Bucknell's other goals. A. Touzot made nine saves in the cage for the Bison.
Players Mentioned
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
Center
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
C
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
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