LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's water polo team won, 9-8, at #15 Bucknell in the 2013 opener Saturday.
Brett Luehmann scored five goals, including the game-winner with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter. He also became the school's career goals leader earlier in the game.
The Lakers led 4-1 in the second quarter before the Bison rallied to tie the contest at 4. Mercyhurst took a 7-6 edge through three periods. Bucknell tied the match with 6:02 remaining. Luehmann scored his fourth goal of the day to regain the lead with 5:47 to go.
After the Bison evened the score again, Luehmann gave the Lakers the lead for good at the 2:45 mark. Bucknell called timeout with 26 seconds left, drawing up a final charge.
Matt Cote made a save in the final seconds, giving Mercyhurst its first-ever win over Bucknell.
In the first quarter, Luehmann made a steal and drove in for a goal, tying the Mercyhurst career record. With 3:26 to go in the opening period, the senior from Ancaster, Ontario, scored again, taking sole possession of the Laker goals mark. His 206 goals passed Andrew Schonhoff's total of 205 scores.
The Lakers beat Bucknell for the first time in nine tries all time. The Bison beat Mercyhurst, 9-4, in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern Championships last season.
Mercyhurst will play twice at the Bison Invite tomorrow. It faces Fordham at 10:15 a.m. and then Penn State Behrend at 2:45 p.m.Â
