ERIE Pa. — The Bucknell University men’s water polo team took a 15-8 victory versus Salem University in game one behind a career-best seven goals from senior Jack Lewis, before allowing a season-low three goals in a 12-3 win over McKendree University to claim a pair of Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) games at the Hallman Aquatics Center.
Bucknell improves to 7-6 overall with the pair of victories, including a 4-1 mark in league action.
Facing the Tigers of Salem in the Bison’s opening game, the Bucknell offense was active from the get-go, scoring five times in the first eight minutes to take a 5-2 lead after one quarter. Shortly after winning the opening sprint, Lewis was on hand to score his first of the game just 15 seconds in on a dish from teammate Shay Gillearn. Lewis scored three times in the frame, while Doruk Ozar and Aleksa Stefanovic also added goals.
The senior added one more goal for a four-goal first half as Bucknell extended its lead to 7-3 at the break.
Lewis left little doubt for the Bison in the third, as he added his fifth goal at the 5:50 mark of the period on an assist from Jack Murad. The native of Wilton, Conn., added Bucknell’s ninth to extend the lead to six, before Ian Shultz and Murad accounted for Bucknell’s next three tallies to cap off a 6-0 Bucknell run as Bucknell cruised to a 15-8 win in the first game of the day.
Lewis’ seven goals were the most by a Bison player this season, and a career high. Shultz’s three goals were also a career best, while Stefanovic, Ozar, Will Gildea and Murad also scored.
Senior goalkeeper Adrien Touzot made 13 saves in the cage.
In the afternoon facing the Bearcats of McKendree, the Bison allowed a season-low three goals. Bucknell broke open the game with a five-goal second quarter while limiting McKendree to just one marker through the first 24 minutes of competition.
Stefanovic and Andu Vlasceanu got the Bison on the board in the opening quarter, before Bucknell broke open the game in the second quarter with five more tallies from four different goal scorers. Vlasceanu, Stefanovic, Hasan Mogultay and Murad each scored in the frame to take a 7-1 lead at the half.
The Bison left little doubt in the third, shutting out the Bearcats once more and adding three unanswered goals in the frame en route to a 12-3 win.
Six different Bison scored in the win, with Vlasceanu leading the way with four goals. Stefanovic added a hat trick, while Liam Stott scored his first goal of the season for the Orange and Blue in the victory.
Touzot tallied a season-best 16 saves in a staunch defensive effort by the Bison.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
