Bucknell University
Mercyhurst (MAWPC Championship Day 2)
Bison Dominate Mercyhurst 21-7, Advance to Fifth-Place Match at MAWPC Championship
11/23/2024 6:05:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Bucknell men's water polo team delivered a commanding performance on Saturday evening, overpowering Mercyhurst in a decisive 21-7 victory to secure a spot in the MAWPC Championship fifth-place match against Mount St. Mary's.
The Bison set the tone early, surging to a 4-0 lead with goals from Sean Tunnicliff, Shay Gillearn, Tyler Hedblad, and Maxime Touzot. Their relentless offense paired with a stifling defense limited Mercyhurst to a single goal in the first half, courtesy of junior Owen Hardner. By the end of the first quarter, Bucknell extended its lead to 7-1, showcasing their scoring depth and defensive dominance.
Mercyhurst managed to close the gap briefly with a 4-0 run in the second quarter, but Bucknell responded swiftly. Aleksa Stefanovic and Matt Ryckman each found the back of the net before halftime, sending the Bison into the break with a 9-5 lead.
The second half was all Bucknell. The Bison unleashed a blistering 14-3 run, with nine different players contributing to the scoring effort. Stefanovic led the charge with six goals, while Gillearn added four. Jack Dillane and Touzot each tallied three, and Tunnicliff, Ryckman, Jack Bruce, Jovan Udovicic, and Hedblad added one apiece.
On the defensive end, Mateo Herrera was a fortress in goal, recording 14 saves. Tunnicliff, Ryckman, Stefanovic, and Gillearn each added a steal, rounding out an all-around dominant team performance.
The Bison's relentless energy and depth will be tested again as they face Mount St. Mary's at 10:30 a.m. in Sunday's showdown for fifth place.
