BERKELEY, Calif. — The Bucknell University men’s water polo team had a tough start to its weekend West Coast swing as the Bison fell to No. 2-ranked the University of California, 23-4, at the Spieker Aquatics Center.
The Bears showed their strength early on and raced to a 6-1 first-quarter lead.
Bucknell scored its only goal of the quarter when junior center Matt Ryckman earned an exclusion with less than two minutes to play. In a six-on-five power-play, Ryckman rocketed a shot to find the back of the net to get the Bison on the board.
The defense successfully blocked multiple key shots to keep California from extending its early lead and notched 18 blocks/saves. Meanwhile, first-year goalkeeper Mateo Herrera saw time in the net, going four-for-four against California’s offense to earn himself a .500 save percentage.
California wasted no time in the second quarter, notching two goals early. Junior center defender Hasan Mogultay answered for the Bison when a deflection from a previous Bucknell shot ended up with him at the top of the scoring perimeter which put the score at 8-2. The Bears responded with six unanswered goals to extend their lead 14-2.
The Bison came out hungry in the second half of play. Sophomore center defender Jack Murad and sophomore attacker Aleksa Stefanovic partook in two enormous blocks for the Bucknell defense during the third quarter. Murad recorded a steal off a blocked shot and the first-year goalie saved another on an attempt by Cal’s Chris Ball.
Senior attacker Walker Butler scored the third goal for the Bison on the counter-attack and in the final scoring play for the Bison, first-year center defender Gregory Alexander Nordheim hit the net in a six-on-five power play for their fourth goal.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
