ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The No. 17-ranked Bucknell University men’s water polo team went 1-1 on the final day of the Navy Open hosted by the United States Naval Academy as the Bison fell to No. 9 the University of California-Davis, 14-13, in overtime and turned back Salem University, 15-10.
A close contest between the nationally ranked Bison and Aggies went the distance with neither team leading by more than three goals. However, UC-Davis scored the eventual game-winning goal with 54 seconds remaining to garner a two-goal advantage. Josh Yardley found the back of the cage with 39 seconds to go, but the Aggies held on for the one-goal victory.
Bucknell trailed early on, but managed to claw its way back into the contest on multiple instances after UC-Davis raced out to a 5-2 lead. Bucknell managed to close that gap to two by halftime, 6-4, after limiting the Aggies to just one goal in the second period. Walker Butler and Andu Vlasceanu each scored in the period to keep Bucknell within striking distance at the half.
Bucknell continued its momentum from the first half to open the second, with Doruk Ozar and Yardley each scoring once to make it four unanswered goals for the Orange and Blue to tie the game at seven.
The Bison seemingly turned the game around in the fourth, taking a 10-8 lead on a goal by Ozar to open the period. The lead would not last however, as the Aggies managed to send the game into overtime tied at 11 on a goal with 42 seconds remaining in regulation.
UC-Davis scored two more goals to open overtime to take a 13-11 lead, before Yardley pulled one back to pull Bucknell within one with 1:27 to go. However, the Aggies would respond seconds later to take a 14-13 win.
Yardley led the way for the Bison scorers with four goals, while Mogultay added three goals. Ozar managed to score twice, while Butler and Jack Lewis each added a goal for the Bison.
Facing Salem, Bucknell broke open a close game in the second quarter, outscoring the Tigers 7-1 in the frame to take a commanding 15-10 win in the final game of the weekend.
Bucknell trailed entering the second period to the Tigers, 4-3, but a goal from Yardley and two by Mogultay gave the Bison a 6-4 advantage with three unanswered tallies. After a goal by the Tigers with 5:57 to go in the half, Bucknell added four more unanswered goals, with Mogultay and Yardley adding two apiece during the stretch to take a 10-5 lead at the break.
The Bison maintained its lead in the second half in taking a 15-10 win over the Tigers.
Yardley led all scorers once again with six goals, while Mogultay added four. Bucknell also gained contributions from six other goalscorers who added a goal apiece in Ethan Jones, Lewis, Butler, Matt Ryckman, Jack Bruce and Shay Gillearn.
Information courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
