Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
#15 Bucknell
Players Mentioned
Men's Water Polo Defeats Bucknell in Overtime
October 15, 2011 | Men's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. (10/14/11) - Tim Wenzlau scored his fourth goal in the second overtime period to help the 16th-ranked Princeton men's water polo team to a 9-8 win over 15th-ranked Bucknell on Friday night. The win moved Princeton into a tie with Bucknell atop the CWPA Southern Division standings.
The teams played a tight 38 minutes and were tied or separated by a single goal for all but a minute and 36 seconds of action. Princeton scored the game's first two goals to lead 2-0 in the first quarter, but wouldn't lead again until Wenzlau scored his first of two overtime goals.
Wenzlau and Matt Weber scored Princeton's first two goals and the Tigers led 2-0 with 2:53 to play in the opening quarter. Bucknell scored with eight seconds left in the opening quarter and netted the only two goals of the second quarter to lead 3-2 at halftime. Chris Cottrell scored on a counter to draw Princeton even at three in the third quarter but a Bucknell goal late in the period gave the Bison the one-goal lead heading into the final quarter.
Bucknell spread the lead to two goals early in the fourth quarter, but Wenzlau and Weber struck again with two goals within a minute to knot the game at 5-5. Bucknell went ahead 6-5 with a man-up goal but Kayj Shannon scored a set goal with 22 second left to force the overtime period.
The Tigers struck first in overtime with Wenzlau scoring on a counter but Bucknell evened the game up. Princeton regained the lead on a set goal from Weber, but again Bucknell evened the game, this time at 8-8 after the first overtime.
Wenzlau scored the game winner with 63 seconds left in the second overtime to give Princeton the lead for good. Sam Butler sealed the win with a steal with 31 seconds remaining on Bucknell's final possession as the Tigers killed the final 31 seconds of clock and avenged last weekend's loss to Bucknell.
Wenzlau's four goals were a season high while Weber added three goals, all coming from the set. Mike Helou had a pair of assists, while Butler, Cottrell and Thomas Nelson all had two steals. Helou drew three ejections. Ben Dearborn made 14 saves to get the win in goal.
Princeton was scoreless in eight man-up chances, while Bucknell scoed three goals on five chances. Princeton was forced to play the majority of the game without Drew Hoffenberg, who was whistled for a misconduct penalty three minutes into the game.
Princeton is now 12-7 overall and 3-2 in the Southern Division. Princeton and Bucknell have identical 3-2 league records. Princeton continues its league slate on Saturday against Johns Hopkins at DeNunzio Pool.
Bucknell 1 2 1 2 - 2 0 - 8
Princeton 2 0 1 3 - 2 1 - 9
Goals: Wenzlau 4, Weber 3, Cottrell, Shannon
Assists: Helou 2, Butler, Weber
Saves: Dearborn 14 (38:00)