Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Men’s Water Polo’s Aleksa Stefanovic Named Bison Athlete of Week
9/25/2023 4:04:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – After helping the Bucknell men's water polo team to a pair of come-from-behind road league victories on Saturday, sophomore Aleksa Stefanovic has been named the Bison of the Week. Stefanovic tallied a team-high nine goals, including a season-high five in a 13-11 win over George Washington and then four more in a 17-16 win over Johns Hopkins.
Bucknell trailed in fourth quarter in both games on Saturday before staging late rallies. Stefanovic was especially clutch in the George Washington game, when he scored three of Bucknell's final five goals. His buzzer-beater to end the third period brought the Bison within 11-10, and then after Hasan Mogultay tied the game early in the fourth quarter, Stefanovic tallied the go-ahead goal, his fifth of the day, with 5:45 to play.
Bucknell pulled out another dramatic win later in the day. Down 16-15 inside two minutes to play, Jack Bruce scored the tying goal and Andu Vlasceanu notched the game-winner with 1:03 to go. Stefanovic scored three goals in the second quarter and then added a fourth with 20 seconds left in the third, which gave the Bison a 14-13 lead at the time.
Stefanovic, a Belgrade, Serbia native, now has a team-high 18 goals on the season. He led the squad with 72 goals last season, when he was a Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference selection and the MAWPC Rookie of the Tournament honoree.
Bucknell is 5-7 on the season, with six of the seven losses coming to ranked opponents. Now 2-1 in the MAWPC, the Bison have another league road game coming up on Sunday at No. 19 Navy.
Bucknell trailed in fourth quarter in both games on Saturday before staging late rallies. Stefanovic was especially clutch in the George Washington game, when he scored three of Bucknell's final five goals. His buzzer-beater to end the third period brought the Bison within 11-10, and then after Hasan Mogultay tied the game early in the fourth quarter, Stefanovic tallied the go-ahead goal, his fifth of the day, with 5:45 to play.
Bucknell pulled out another dramatic win later in the day. Down 16-15 inside two minutes to play, Jack Bruce scored the tying goal and Andu Vlasceanu notched the game-winner with 1:03 to go. Stefanovic scored three goals in the second quarter and then added a fourth with 20 seconds left in the third, which gave the Bison a 14-13 lead at the time.
Stefanovic, a Belgrade, Serbia native, now has a team-high 18 goals on the season. He led the squad with 72 goals last season, when he was a Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference selection and the MAWPC Rookie of the Tournament honoree.
Bucknell is 5-7 on the season, with six of the seven losses coming to ranked opponents. Now 2-1 in the MAWPC, the Bison have another league road game coming up on Sunday at No. 19 Navy.
Players Mentioned
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
CD
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water Polo
ATK
/ Men's Water PoloIn The Herd: Patriot League Opener Preview And Angelina Seropian Feature
Thursday, March 19
In The Herd: Army Game Preview And Katie Browne Feature
Thursday, March 19
In The Herd: NCAA Championships Preview And Tyler Bienus Feature
Tuesday, March 17
Lafayette at Bucknell Baseball Game Three Highlights 3-15-2026
Monday, March 16