Saint Mary's men's water polo dropped a 14-9 decision to Bucknell on Sunday, Sept. 13, closing the program's first-ever East Coast tournament with a 2-2 record at the Princeton Invitational.
The Gaels got off to a fast start. Leo Hachem scored 23 seconds into the opening quarter, and Noah Bigara doubled the lead moments later. Bucknell answered with four unanswered goals to seize a 4-2 edge after one period.
Saint Mary's clawed back in stretches. Harry Irwin and Andrew Donlin each scored in the second quarter, but the Bison matched them and carried an 8-4 lead into halftime. Bigara and Mason Black pulled the Gaels within two early in the third, only for Bucknell to push the margin back to four heading into the final frame.
Bigara, Hachem and Ferran de Witt all found the net in the fourth quarter. The rally fell short.
Bigara finished with three goals, his first hat trick as a Gael. Hachem added two against the Bison, capping a nine-goal weekend that pushed his team-leading season total to 25 goals through 11 games. Black's goal was his 14th of the season, second on the team behind Hachem. Six Gaels scored in the loss.
The tournament marked a milestone for the program coached by James Lathrop, who also directs the Lamorinda Water Polo Club in Lafayette. In their inaugural season, the Gaels entered the Princeton Invitational ranked No. 20 nationally in the Collegiate Water Polo Association preseason poll.
The four-game weekend started with a 15-8 loss to host Princeton on Friday, Sept. 11.
Saint Mary's rebounded Saturday, Sept. 12, beating Wagner 19-11 and Mount St. Mary's 16-6. Donlin became the first Gael to reach double-digit goals and assists on the season after his hat trick against Wagner that day.
The Gaels (5-6) had beaten Bucknell 12-9 earlier this season at the Triton Invitational, according to SMC Athletics. The Bison flipped the result in the rematch.
Saint Mary's returns to the Bay Area to face Cal on Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. at the Spieker Aquatics Complex.
