ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Bucknell University women’s water polo team dropped a pair of contests to close out the University of Michigan’s Wolverine Invitational. The Bison fell to Iona College in the first contest, 9-8, before dropping a 17-9 decision to Salem University in the afternoon.
The Gaels of Iona scored the game-winning goal at the 1:05 mark to down the Bison. Bucknell had one chance to tie at the end of the game after a timeout, but could not convert as the Gaels avenged an earlier 10-7 loss to the Bison on February 11 at the Princeton University Invitational.
The Bison started slowly, not finding the back of the cage until the 3:46 mark of the second quarter to cut into a 2-0 Iona lead courtesy of Paige Furano. Furano tied the game just 30 seconds later as the Bison began to find their offensive groove, with Chloe Smith putting Bucknell ahead at the half with a goal at the 2:32 mark of the second, 3-2.
The Gaels used a strong third quarter, outscoring the Bison 5-2 in the period, to take a 7-5 lead. However, Bucknell fought back in the fourth, opening the period with two goals from Megan LaCroix just over a minute apart to tie the game with 5:56 to go.
Furano was on hand to deliver Bucknell’s first lead since the half when she scored with 4:15 remaining to put Bucknell ahead 8-7. The Gaels, however, scored the tying goal just 30 seconds later, before taking the lead for good on a goal by Laura Rockett with 1:05 remaining out of a timeout. Both LaCroix and Isabelle Monaghan had looks at the goal to tie, but the Bison could nt capitalize as they fell to Iona by a one-goal margin.
Furano netted four times in the defeat, while LaCroix added two goals. Annika Lampen made eight saves in the cage.
Facing Salem, a 4-0 second quarter by the Tigers helped Salem pull away for its first win over Bucknell since 2000. Bucknell scored five goals in the third quarter, but the Tigers used an 11-goal second half to take the 17-9 win in Bucknell’s final game of the weekend.
Bucknell led after the first eight minutes of the game, 3-2, after goals from LaCroix and Chloe Smith to start the game. The Bison, however, were held scoreless for over eight minutes, not finding the back of the cage again until the 6:24 mark of the third quarter on Furano’s goal as Salem scored five unanswered goals during that time span to lead 7-4.
Bucknell pulled within two, 9-7, with 3:04 left in the third on a goal by Furano, but Salem scored three of the next four goals to end the quarter to take a 12-8 lead with eight minutes remaining before pulling away in the fourth for a 17-9 win.
Furano scored four goals for the second straight game, while Lampen and Sam Gove split time in goal. LaCroix added three goals in the defeat.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
