LEBANON, Ill. - The men's water polo team will be on the road this weekend, as they travel east to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to compete in the Bucknell Invitational (hosted by Bucknell University). The invitational will be from Saturday, September 21st to Sunday, September 22nd, and will all be played at the Kinney Natatorium.
The Bucknell Invitational has been running every year since 2018, excluding the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants usually play three to four matches at Kinney Natatorium and it is typically held in the first half of the men's season. This year, the field will include 10 programs, ranging from various conferences and affiliations.
BEARCATS CURRENTLY
McKendree is coming off an underwhelming defeat last Saturday, September 14th against in-state Augustana College (Ill.). It was the first home matchup of the season for the Bearcats, but it did not go as anticipated as the Vikings were able to get hot in numerous spurts as McKendree did their best to disrupt the runs and end the match in a 5-11 loss. Senior Jespyn Bishop (Brighton, Colo.) was a factor on both sides of the pool, putting in two goals on two shot attempts along with three takeaways. Sophomore Yannick Robertson (Trinidad and Tobago) also chipped in a couple of scoring possessions plus an assist.
For the season, both Robertson and freshman Joshua Gibson (Nassau, Bahamas) lead the team in scoring with 12 goals each. Fifth-year Jimmy Cronin (Naperville, Ill.) has been the only one in the cage for the Bearcats, saving the ball 40 times and allowing 67 (37.4 save percentage). McKendree is currently 0-4 on the year but came close a couple of times in the Navy Open earlier this season.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Long Island University | Saturday, September 21st, 12:40 PM EST
The first game on the docket this weekend will be against Long Island University. Based out of New York, the Sharks are 3-5 on the season and compete in the Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC). They are coming out of the Salem Invite (Hosted by Salem University) where they won the first two matches in the fourth and third overtime against the University of Toronto and Mount St. Mary's (Md.) respectively. LIU then dropped the next two to Johns Hopkins University and Gannon University.
Senior Josep Jodra Muñoz (Barcelona, Spain) is the focal point on offense, leading the NWPC in goals, goals per game, steals, field blocks, and total points. Graduate Manuel Diez Teran (Madrid, Spain) will supposedly be in the net for the Sharks, as he ranks first in the conference in total saves (52) and second in save percentage (38.8%).
Watch: Click HERE (Free – YouTube)
Live Stats: There will be no live stats for this match; box score will be publicized soon after.
History: Click HERE
Bucknell University | Saturday, September 21st, 7:20 PM EST
After a several-hour break, McKendree will jump back in and face the hosting Bucknell University out of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Like LIU, the Bison are on the struggling side thus far with a 2-5 record heading into the invitational and have yet to play against any Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) foes. Recently, they competed in the Princeton Invite (hosted by Princeton University), going three and out with losing the first two matches by only four points each.
Sophomore David Dumitru (Bucharest, Romania) is the vocal leader of the Bucknell stampede as their main goalkeeper. He ranks 2nd in saves per game (5.8), third in save percentage (31.1%), and fourth in total saves (23).
Watch: Click HERE (Free – YouTube)
Live Stats: There will be no live stats for this match; box score will be publicized soon after.
History: Click HERE
Saddleback College | Sunday, September 22nd, 1:20 PM EST
The final game of this road trip will be against Saddleback College out of Mission Viejo, California. The Bobcats are currently 2-4 overall and are 1-0 in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC). They are coming off a rough slate at the Golden West Invitational (hosted by Golden West College), starting off 1-1 in day one. Saddleback ended 0-3 on the second day of the invite.
Sophomore Ian Mason (Temecula, Cali.) leads the team in the cage, ranking ninth in the conference in total saves (18), fourth in save percentage (43.9%), and second in goals against (23).
Watch: Click HERE (Free – YouTube)
Live Stats: There will be no live stats for this match; box score will be publicized soon after.
History: Click HERE
ALL PARTICIPANTS
Bucknell University (2-5, 0-0 MAWPC)
Fordham University (5-0, 0-0 MAWPC)
Mount St. Mary's University (Md.) (2-7, 0-1 MAWPC)
Salem University (6-2, 0-0 WWPA)
Long Island University (3-5, 0-0 NWPC)
Wagner College (3-4, 0-0 MAWPC)
Saddleback College (2-4, 1-0 OEC)
McKendree University (0-4, 0-0 WWPA)
Johns Hopkins University (5-3, 1-0 MAWPC)
Gannon University (5-2, 0-0 WWPA)
For more updates and information on Bearcat Athletics, please continue to visit McKBearcats.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
#BearcatsUnleashed
