LEWISBURG, Pa. — The Bucknell University women’s water polo team defeated Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) foes Saint Francis University, 10-9, and Mercyhurst University, 13-4, to finish off a 4-0 the weekend at the Bucknell Invitational and increase its winning streak to nine games. The team also started 2-0 in conference competition with the results, after going 2-8 in the CWPA last year.
The contest versus SFU was cast as the weekend’s headliner and the event did not disappoint with the outcome not decided until the final seconds.
The Red Flash opened the scoring with a goal but Lehua Bender answered the challenge with a tally. SFU retook the lead and again the Bison tied it up when Gwen Kallmeyer deposited a score.
The Bison took its first lead at 3-1 in the second quarter when Campbell Collins scored the first of her game-high three goals. Saint Francis replied with a 4-0 run. Sidney Finkler scored a crucial goal eight seconds before halftime to generate some momentum.
SFU extended its lead to 7-4 before the Bison tallied twice off goals by Olivia Hopper and Boati Motau. The Red Flash scored once more as the third quarter concluded.
The final period belonged to the Bison as the Orange & Blue outscored the Red Flash 4-1. Bucknell seized the lead on a 3-0 run. Both Bender and Collins added their second goals tying the game. Collins’s third goal with 45 seconds left regained the advantage for Bucknell. SFU took advantage of Bucknell’s pressure and found a wide open Red Flash player who equalized the game.
On Bucknell’s next possession, Kallmeyer, a junior, rose to the occasion with a skipping shot that went past the SFU goalie with two seconds remaining for the 10-9 win. The game was not yet over. Saint Francis, appropriately, threw up a Hail Mary shot that almost went in but goalkeeper Tamara Torkos swatted it away.
The Bison easily handled newly restored foe Mercyhurst en route to a 13-4 victory and 2-0 start in conference play.
Bucknell jumped out to a 6-0 lead thanks to three goals by Ashley Hopper and one goal each from Finkler, Izzy Lippolis and Caitlin Stott.
Mercyhurst scored once in the second period but Bucknell added two tallies by Olivia Hopper and Motau.
The Orange & Blue scored four more goals after halftime with Stott adding two to accompany solo strikes by Rhys Beutler and Ashley Hopper.
Ava Bayne supplied Bucknell’s one goal in the fourth quarter. Mercyhurst scored twice to finalize the scoring at 13-4.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
