LEWISBURG, Pa. — Bucknell University men’s water polo split the final day of the Bucknell Invitational with a 24-13 loss to No. 5-ranked Fordham University and a 14-12 win over Wagner College in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) competition.
The No. 5 Rams performed to their ranking as one day after scoring a school record 31 goals against Mercyhurst University, Fordham,notched another MAWPC win with 24 goals against the Bison.
Jack Dillane led Bucknell with four goals. 11 different players scored for the Rams.
The game remained close in the early proceedings with Bucknell sticking within striking distance of the Rams and generally answering most of Fordham’s tallies. The Rams scored two seconds before the first quarter’s close for an 8-5 lead.
Fordham began to separate in the second quarter to acquire a 13-8 lead by halftime.
The gap grew larger in the third quarter with the Rams tallying eight goals to Bucknell’s three.
The game floated to a conclusion with both teams scoring three times for the 24-13 finale.
Bucknell picked up its first conference win of the season with a narrow two-goal defeat of Wagner. Aleksa Stefanovic scored half of the Bison’s goals to power the attack.
Stefanovic tallied both of Bucknell’s goals in the first quarter to equal Wagner’s output. He added two more goals in the second quarter along with two more Orange & Blue to narrowly outscore the Seahawks for a 6-5 halftime lead.
Bucknell extended its lead to 10-7, entering the fourth quarter with four scorers from four different players.
The Bison led 12-8 before the Seahawks launched an epic comeback to tie it at 12-12 with 2:15 remaining. Stefanovic rose to the occasion, scoring the final two goals to win the game, including converting a penalty opportunity with 35 seconds remaining.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
