Bucknell University Hands Host/Division III No. 10 Johns Hopkins University 16-10 Loss in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Competition

BALTIMORE, Md. — Visiting Bucknell University used a strong first half to defeat host/Division III No. 10-ranked Johns Hopkins University, 16-10, in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) action. The Blue Jays slip to 11-16 overall and 3-6 in the MAWPC, while the Bison improve to 10-12 overall and 6-4 in the league.

Junior Jason Mihalopoulos scored the game’s first goal on a six-on-five just 51 seconds in. But a Shay Gillearn man-up goal on the other end sparked a five-goal Bison run as they pushed out to a 5-1 lead at the 3:19-mark. Freshman Phillip Long halted the run with a five-meter goal less than a minute later and Bucknell led 5-2 after eight minutes.

Aleksa Stefanovic opened the second-quarter scoring with a six-on-five goal, but sophomore Max Blecher answered just 26 seconds later to make it 6-3. Sean Tunnicliff scored a man-up goal to kick-start another five-goal Bucknell run. Senior Ian Raley buried a five-meter shot to end the run with 40 ticks on the clock and made it an 11-4 game at the half.

Freshman Patrick Rooney and sophomore Owen Bartlett scored back-to-back goals to open the third quarter and pull Hopkins within five. Bucknell answered with a 4-1 spurt that bridged the third-quarter break as the Bison went up 15-7. Long got the Blue Jays on the board at 4:46 in the fourth with a six-on-five goal, but Hasan Mogultay answered for the Bison. Mihalopoulos and Long came right back with a pair of goals for JHU, but the Jays could get no closer.

Long led the Blue Jays with four goals, while Mihalopoulos added three points (two goals, one assist) and two drawn ejections. Rooney drew two ejections and grabbed two steals to go with his one goal. Sophomore Ethan Babel chipped in two assists and senior Kyle Pearson finished with seven saves and two steals. 

Release courtesy Johns Hopkins University Athletics Communications