LEWISBURG, Pa. — Bucknell University improved to 11-7 and 6-2 in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) action as the Bison edged Mount St. Mary’s University, 15-13, before mowing down Mercyhurst University, 20-6, at home in Kinney Natatorium.
Facing Mount St. Mary’s, Bucknell trailed for most of the game, tied the match seven times, but never led until there were 32 seconds remaining. The Bison picked the perfect time to take the lead and added an insurance goal for the 15-13 win over their Route 15 Rival.
Jack Dillane scored two goals but his clutch tally gave Bucknell the advantage. The scene was set for a dramatic finish. Bucknell passed the ball around the pool before Pier Giorgio Cicchetti fired a shot. The ball bounced off the left post and The Mount’s goalkeeper corralled the ball. While looking for an outlet pass, he unwisely exposed the ball leaving it susceptible to harm. Dillane, who plays in the middle, lurked and sprung like a trap to send the ball flying into an unprotected cage.
Bucknell’s defense conjured another stop. The Bison collected the ball and Cicchetti spotted the unguarded Mount St. Mary’s goal. The rookie reared his arm and fired the ball between the pipes.
The Bison won the previous meeting 27-14 two weeks ago in a lopsided affair at the Hallman Aquatics Center in Erie.
This time, Mount St. Mary’s scored the first two goals before the Orange & Blue tied it up. The Mountaineers scored again before the quarter ended.
Bucknell tied the game again at three-all and four-all. Again, Mount St. Mary’s created more separation with leads of 6-4 and 7-5. The Bison responded with a 2-0 run. The teams then traded goals for an eight-all halftime tie.
The Mountaineers went on a 3-0 run coming out of halftime, but Bucknell goalkeeper David Dumitru made a save to turn the momentum and jump start a 3-1 Bison run.
Bucknell tied the game at 12-all and 13-all on goals by Tyler Hedblad and Cicchetti to set the stage for Dillane’s dramatic tally.
Jovan Udovicic led Bucknell with five goals, while Cicchetti and Hedblad each tallied three scores as the trio accounted for 11 of the home team’s 15 strikes.
In the late game versus Mercyhurst, Bucknell acquired a 4-0 lead and briefly allowed the Lakers to inch within 6-5 before embarking on a 14-1 run to end the game.
Cicchetti led a balanced offense with four goals. Ori Raz added three tallies.
The Orange & Blue breezed to a 4-0 lead and everything seemed right in Kinney before Mercyhurst rallied back in trimming the Lakers’ deficit to 6-5 early in the second quarter.
Bucknell reasserted itself with a 3-0 run before halftime. The scoring stretch extended into the third quarter as the Lakers had no answer for Bucknell’s versatile attack which powered the Bison to a 16-6 lead entering the final quarter.
Four insurance goals in the fourth stanza allowed Bucknell to reach 20 goals for the fourth time in 2026.
Information courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
