PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Bucknell University men’s water polo team split it final games at Brown University’s Bruno Classic by losing to the host/No. 17-ranked Bears, 19-11, and edging Iona University, 16-15. The Bison never led against Brown and held on to win against a rally by Iona.
Seven different Bison, led by Tyler Hedblad’s three tallies, scored goals, but the Brown offense proved too insurmountable for the Bucknell defense.
The Bears roared out to a 4-0 lead before Jovan Udovicic broke their streak. Udovicic scored again but Brown added two more goals for a 6-2 lead.
Bucknell’s offense sparked in the second quarter by scoring four goals, including two by Hedblad. However, the deficit grew up as Brown repeated its first quarter output.
The third quarter was an even affair with both teams tallying twice. Aleksa Stefanovic and Kai Johnson each provided a cage-finder.
Three Bison scored in the game’s final eight minutes, but any late rally proved impossible with Brown tallying five goals for a 19-11 victory.
Bucknell closed out the day with a victory as nine Bison tallied goals, including a hat-trick by Sean Tunnicliff, to elude Iona.
The Gaels started the game with a 2-0 lead and stayed in front 4-2 before the Bison scored twice off goals by Andrew Hunyady and Stefanovic.
Bucknell’s scoring run stretched into the second quarter and moved to a 5-0 spread before Iona shattered it. The Orange & Blue tallied another cage-finder before the halftime bell rang.
The third quarter witnessed a flurry of scoring with both teams scoring five goals. Iona cut the deficit to 11-10 before Bucknell ended the frame on a 2-0 run.
The Bison stretched their lead to 15-10 before Iona scored twice. Jack Murad added an insurance goal which proved decisive, as the Gaels made a late rally, scoring three straight goals to close within 16-15. Iona had one final chance to tie the game with seven seconds remaining, but the ensuing shot was a harmless bouncer that was swatted away to preserve victory for Bucknell.
Information courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
