PRINCETON, N.J. -- The Princeton women’s water polo team returns to action this weekend looking for its second-straight CWPA Southern Division title and its fifth in the last six years. The Tigers enter the Southern Championships as the third seed and will meet Bucknell in the semifinals. The tournament will be played at Maryland.

Princeton regained the Southern title a season ago with wins over Maryland and Bucknell. The Tigers won the title with a double-overtime triumph over the Bison last year to regain the title they lost a season earlier to Maryland.

Princeton finished third in the CWPA Southern regular season with a 2-4 record. Princeton swept both of its games from George Washington, but was swept by both Maryland and Bucknell. The two tied for first place with identical 5-1 records after splitting against each other. Maryland earned the top seed based on head-to-head goal differential.

Princeton and Bucknell played twice during the regular season with the Bison taking both meetings. Bucknell won the first game 9-7 on March 28 at DeNunzio Pool as Bucknell stormed to an early lead and held on. Princeton, which trailed by as many as four, moved within a goal with three minutes to play, but Bucknell extended the margin late in a two-goal win. Junior Helen Meigs and sophomore Sarah Hutchison both had two goals in the loss.

The teams met again six days later in Lewisburg and the Bison came away with an 11-7 win again establishing an early lead over the Tigers. Bucknell led 5-2 at the half and maintained its lead in the second half. Sophomore Lauren Brunner and senior Claire Jacobson each scored twice in the loss.

The winner of the Princeton-Bucknell game will take on the winner of the other semifinal, which pits Maryland and George Washington, for the Southern Champions on Saturday night. The two winners will also automatically qualify for the Eastern Championships next weekend at Harvard.

Release courtesy Princeton Athletic Communications