SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Bucknell University women’s water polo team went 1-1 on the second day of the Aztec Invitational at San Diego State University by falling to No. 14-ranked the University of California-San Diego, 14-3, before rebounding with a 9-7 win over Division III No. 5 Austin College in the afternoon match-up. The win over the Kangaroos snapped a six-game losing streak for the Bison.
UC-San Diego jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first game of the day. Bucknell battled back by scoring two goals in the second quarter, but the Tritons added three more goals to acquire a commanding 8-2 lead by halftime.
Chloe Smith scored Bucknell’s other goal in the second half, but the Tritons added six more goals in the final 16 minutes to take a 14-3 win over Bucknell.
Paige Furano and Larissa Hodzic scored Bucknell’s first half goals, while Annika Lampen made two saves in the defeat.
Facing the defending Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Champion Kangaroos, Bucknell claimed a 2-1 lead after one quarter versus Austin.
Smith opened Bucknell’s scoring at the 6:36 mark of the first quarter, taking advantage of a man-up opportunity before the Kangaroos responded with a goal from Brooke Le just over a minute later at the 5:17 mark.
Smith was on hand once more to break the tie, scoring with 3:12 to go to give Bucknell a 2-1 lead. Goals from Furano and Hodzic in the second quarter extended Bucknell’s lead to 4-1. However, two unanswered goals from the ‘Roos brought Austin back into the game at 4-3 by halftime.
Smith netted her hat-trick just 40 seconds into the second half to give Bucknell another two-goal cushion, but the Kangaroos battled back once more, scoring two unanswered goals just over a minute apart in the third quarter to tie the game at five-all.
Bucknell took control of the game in the final three minutes of the third quarter by scoring three unanswered goals. Emma Molaski started the proceedings with a goal at the 3:07 mark, before Smith added her fourth of the day with 1:49 remaining on the clock. Bella Moynihan added Bucknell’s third with 28 seconds left to gain a three-goal edge, but the Kangaroos pulled one back right as the horn sounded to keep the game within two at 8-6.
The two teams tightened up defensively in the fourth quarter, scoring just one goal each. Molaski was on hand for her second goal of the day with one minute remaining to ice the game and give Bucknell a 9-6 lead, and Bucknell held the Kanagroos scoreless until a late consolation goal in the final 43 seconds in taking the two-goal win.
Lampen compiled a career-best 15 saves in the cage for a save percentage of .682. The four goals for Smith were also a career best.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
