LEWISBURG, Pa. — The No. 15-ranked Bucknell University men’s water polo team rebounded with two wins at Kinney Natatorium in closing the Bucknell Invitational with a 2-2 record. Bucknell defeated St. Francis College Brooklyn, 12-11, in the first game of the day, before going on to defeat Salem University, 18-11, in the final contest of the weekend.
Facing St. Francis Brooklyn, Bucknell found itself trailing 10-6 with 2:31 left in the third in this one, but the Bison outscored the Terriers 6-1 over the final 10:31 to take a narrow one-goal win. Jack Lewis scored Bucknell’s final two goals in the win, including the game-winning shot on a pass from Hasan Mogultay to win the game at the horn.
The Terriers looked to be in control much of the game, taking a 4-2 lead after one, and breaking open a 6-5 lead in the third into a 10-6 lead after scoring four of the next five goals.
Josh Yardley put a stop to the SFC Brooklyn run after converting from five-meters, before the Bison benefited from an exclusion that Yardley promptly converted minutes later to pull the Bison within two, 10-8 at the end of the third quarter.
Doruk Ozar pulled the Bison within one, 10-9 with 5:47 to go as Bucknell claimed the momentum in front of an energetic crowd at Kinney Natatorium. Mogultay then equalized with 3:55 to go, before Lewis fired a long shot near the end of the shot clock to give Bucknell its first lead, 11-10, since the 6:02 mark of the first quarter.
SFC responded with a goal just 20 seconds later to tie the game at 11, setting up a dramatic finish. The Bison drew an ejection with five seconds left, setting up a power play opportunity. Mogultay then made a nice cross pass to find Lewis on the left side of the pool, who fired his shot as the final horn sounded to give Bucknell the win.
Lewis finished with three goals on the day, while Ozar, Mogultay and Yardley each added two goals. Adrien Touzot made seven saves in the win.
Against Salem, Bucknell used a nine-goal first half to cruise to an 18-11 win in the final game of the day. Bucknell scored nine of the game’s first 11 goals to take a 9-2 lead at the break, adding six more goals in the third period in scoring a season-best 18 goals.
Bucknell featured nine different goal scorers, led by Matt Ryckman and Ozar with three goals. Jack Bruce, Yardley and Walker Butler each added multiple goals.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
