ERIE, Pa. — The Bucknell University women’s water polo team claimed a 16-15 victory over Iona University at the 2023 Curtis Robinette Memorial Invitational hosted by Mercyhurst University.
Leading for most of the contest, the Bison saw their margin erased with 44 seconds left. However, a last-second shot ended Iona’s 9-7 second-half rally in a 16-15 loss to Bucknell.
Bucknell pulled ahead 1-0 with 1:37 gone in the game, but the Gaels answered 17 seconds later to knot the game at one-all. The teams traded scores until a pair of Bison strikes in the closing 58 seconds gave Bucknell at 5-3 advantage going into the second quarter.
Bucknell went up 6-3 on a five-meter penalty score with 58 ticks gone in the second quarter, but back-to-back tallies moved the Gaels back to within one at 6-5 with 4:08 left until halftime. Bucknell responded to go ahead 8-5 at the 2:05 mark, but the Gaels chipped their deficit to 8-6 20 seconds later. A Bucknell goal with 1:20 on the clock provided a 9-6 lead entering halftime.
Iona, however, refused to go away as the Gaels outscored the Bison 4-3 in the third quarter. Leading 9-7 58 seconds into the third quarter, the Bison went ahead 10-7 until Iona answered with 6:16 left in the frame to close within 10-8. Back-to-back Bison strikes pushed Bucknell’s lead to 12-8, but consecutive tallies over the final 2:45 of the quarter allowed Iona to inch within 12-10 entering the final eight minutes of regulation.
After the Bison extended their lead back to three with 1:29 gone in the fourth quarter, two straight Gaels’ goals chopped Bucknell’s edge to one 13-12 with 5:35 remaining on the clock.
Bucknell answered with a five-meter penalty score, but the Gaels answered with 3:57 to play. Following another Bucknell goal, Iona netted a man-up tally to inch within 15-14 at the 2:03 mark. Following an Iona time out, the Gaels struck again with 44 seconds remaining to tie the game at 15-all.
The Gales stopped a Bucknell five-meter penalty attempt with 24 seconds on the clock, but a last-second Bison shot on a 7-6 advantage found the back of the net to seal the win.
