Saturday, October 12
Lewisburg, Pa.
11 a.m.
Bucknell University
vs
George Washington
Men's Water Polo Returns to Kinney Natatorium for Weekend of MAWPC Competition
10/11/2024 10:20:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. --Â Bucknell men's water polo returns to Kinney Natatorium for a busy weekend of Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) action. The Bison will play four matches, starting on Saturday with George Washington in the morning and Johns Hopkins in the afternoon, which will also serve as the team's Senior Day. On Sunday, Bucknell will face Navy and Mercyhurst.
Saturday, Oct. 12
No. 20 Bucknell (6-6, 3-1 MAWPC) vs. George Washington (6-6, 2-1 MAWPC) - 11 a.m. - WATCH
No. 20 Bucknell (6-6, 3-1 MAWPC) vs. Johns Hopkins (7-11, 1-2 MAWPC) - 5 p.m. - WATCH
Sunday, Oct. 13
No. 20 Bucknell (6-6, 3-1 MAWPC) vs. No. 20 Navy (11-5, 2-2 MAWPC) - 11 a.m. - WATCH
No. 20 Bucknell (6-6, 3-1 MAWPC) vs. Mercyhurst (4-10, 0-6 MAWPC) - 3 p.m. - WATCH
About the Bison
- The Bison competed at home two weekends ago against Mercyhurst. Bucknell defeated the lakers 20-5, as Aleksa Stefanovic recorded six goals and three assists, while David Dumitru made 15 saves. The Bison opened with a seven-goal burst in the first 4:31, leading 9-1 after one quarter. Stefanovic netted three goals in the second quarter, and Bucknell maintained control throughout the game. Eight different players scored for Bucknell, with Stefanovic, Hasan Mogultay, and Jovan Udovicic each scoring multiple goals. The defense held Mercyhurst to five goals, the fewest allowed since the 2022 MAWPC semifinals.Â
- Bucknell now holds a 6-6 overall record and is 3-1 in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference and 4-1 at home. The Bison have also broken into the national rankings, tied for No. 20.
- Bucknell last faced George Washington in 2023. The teams competed twice, once in Washington, D.C., and once in Lewisburg, with the Bison winning both. The last time out Sean Tunnicliff, Walker Butler, and Shay Gillearn each scored two goals to lead Bucknell to an 8-6 victory. The Bison jumped to an early 3-0 lead and never trailed, responding each time George Washington closed the gap. A key moment came in the second quarter when goalie David Dumitru saved a penalty shot, followed by Tunnicliff's goal to make it 5-2. George Washington narrowed the score to 7-6 at halftime, but Gillearn's early second-half goal extended Bucknell's lead. Dumitru's clutch saves and strong defense helped the Bison hold on for the win.
- George Washington is coming off a 1-1 weekend in the New York City area. The Revolutionaries won their first game against Wagner (13-12) before dropping a contest to No. 9 Fordham (20-9).
- The Bison faced the Blue Jays twice last season, once in Baltimore and once at Kinney Natatorium. Bucknell claimed an 18-11 home victory in their most recent matchup, pulling away in the third quarter, after a narrow 17-16 win earlier in the season. Seniors Walker Butler, Doruk Ozar, and Liam Stott combined for six goals, while Andu Vlasceanu led with five. Ozar, Gillearn, and Stefanovic each added three goals. Dumitru made 12 saves, six of them in a dominant third quarter where Bucknell outscored Johns Hopkins 5-1. Stott added two fourth-quarter goals to seal the win.
- Johns Hopkins recently finished a 1-3 weekend at the Gary Troyer Tournament in California. The Blue Jays suffered losses to ranked Division III teams Pomona-Pitzer (18-10), La Verne (14-9), and Redlands (19-15) before edging out Chapman in a tight 18-17 victory.
- Bucknell faced Navy three times last year, twice at home in Lewisburg and once in Annapolis. Their most recent meeting was in the MAWPC Championships, where Navy narrowly defeated the Bison 10-9 to advance to the final. Bucknell held a 7-4 lead at halftime, but was limited to just two goals in the second half as Navy mounted a comeback to secure the win.
- Navy recently wrapped up a 1-2 weekend in New York against fellow CWPA teams. The Mids suffered losses to No. 9 Fordham (17-11) and Wagner (15-10) before closing the weekend with an 18-7 victory over Mercyhurst.
- Mercyhurst's last competitions took place in New York and Lewisburg, where they faced fellow MAWPC teams. The Lakers went 0-3, falling to No. 9 Fordham (26-9), No. 20 Navy (18-7), and No. 20 Bucknell (20-5).
Players Mentioned
ATK
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GK
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ATK
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CD
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Center
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ATK
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CD
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A
/ Men's Water Polo
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ATK
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