BRONX, N.Y. — The Bucknell University men’s water polo team advanced to its fourth Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) championship game in the last five seasons after defeating No. 19-ranked George Washington University, 7-5, in the MAWPC Semifinals hosted at Fordham University.
Bucknell will now face host/No. 19 Fordham, a 19-8 victor over Salem University in the other semifinal, in its home pool on Sunday afternoon, with the opening sprint scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Bucknell avenged an 0-2 regular-season record against the Colonials one night after defeating Navy, which had also defeated Bucknell both times in its two regular-season matchups in 2022.
The Colonials took the lead with the first goal of the game just over 90 seconds into the game, but the Bison managed to respond with three unanswered goals to end the first quarter courtesy of Andu Vlasceanu, Shay Gillearn and Walker Butler to take a 3-1 lead after the opening eight minutes.
The Bison then capped off the 4-0 scoring run with a goal by Ian Shultz just 25 seconds into the second quarter. The Colonials responded with two unanswered goals just 30 seconds apart to pull within 4-3 with 6:07 left in the first half, with neither team adding to that total as Bucknell took a narrow advantage after the opening 16 minutes.
Goals from Gillearn and Josh Yardley helped Bucknell restore a three-goal advantage in a bright start to the second half, with Bucknell taking a 6-3 lead with 2:44 left in the third. A goal from George Washington with 50 seconds remaining in the half pulled the Colonials within two, 6-4, after three quarters.
GW struck first at the 3:34 mark of the fourth to pull within one, 6-5, but the Bison managed to force several turnovers late in the game to hold on for the one-goal victory before a late insurance goal by Aleksa Stefanovic with one second remaining secured the win.
Gillearn was the only Bison with multiple goals in a balanced attack for the Bison, with Butler, Shultz, Stefanovic, and Vlasceanu each adding a single goal. Senior Adrien Touzot made eight saves in the cage for Bucknell in the victory.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
