SANTA CLARA, CALIF. — The Bucknell University men’s water polo team split its final day of competition at the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament hosted by Santa Clara University. The Bison opened the day with a commanding victory against Fresno Pacific University, 22-7, before falling to No. 3-ranked Stanford University in the nightcap, 19-6.
In the opener versus Fresno Pacific, Bucknell received goals from ten different players in a commanding win in the morning game against the Sunbirds. The 22 goals are the second-highest total of the season for the Bison.
Bucknell scored the first 13 goals of the game, never looking back in a comfortable victory. Bucknell senior Adrien Touzot and the whole Bucknell defensive unit starred in the first half, as the Bison shut out the Sunbirds, with Touzot only having to make three saves in the opening 16 minutes.
Bucknell scored six in the first quarter, adding six more in the second before the Sunbirds got on the board at the 7:19 mark of the third quarter.
No Bison player scored more than three goals in a balanced offensive attack on Sunday morning. Matt Ryckman tied his career best with three goals, while Ian Shultz had a career-best three goals as well. Shay Gillearn, Colby Paine, and Andu Vlasceanu also added hat tricks. Aleksa Stefanovic, Jack Lewis, Josh Yardley, Walker Butler and Jack Bruce also scored in the victory.
Mateo Herrera made his second appearance of the season for the Bison in the cage, playing the second half and making two saves while adding a steal.
Taking on Stanford, the Cardinal flexed their muscles in the final game of the weekend, scoring nine of the first ten goals of the game en route to a 19-6 win.
The Cardinal scored the first two goals of the game before senior Vlasceanu found the back of the cage at the 2:00 mark of the first quarter. However, Stanford would go on to score seven unanswered goals to end the half before Butler found Bucknell’s second goal with 7:13 in the third.
It would be all Stanford the rest of the way, with the Cardinal scoring five goals each in the third and fourth quarters to take the win. Vlasceanu scored twice while Stefanovic, Butler, Shultz, and Paine each added goals. Touzot made five saves in the cage, while Herrera also made his third appearance for the Bison in the fourth quarter.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
