LEWISBURG, Pa. — The No. 14-ranked Princeton University women’s water polo team collected victories over No. 21 Long Island University, 9-7, and Villanova University, 13-6, of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) at the the 2023 Bucknell Invitational hosted by Bucknell University at Kinney Natatorium.
Facing the Sharks of LIU, the Tigers began the game with the first four tallies, shutting out their foes for over nine minutes. LIU closed the gap to two before Princeton held a 5-2 lead at halftime.
Head coach Derek Ellingson‘s group opened the second half with two goals to push its lead to five, 7-2. Princeton was never seriously threatened the rest of the way as LIU’s last two tallies came with 71 seconds and 19 seconds to go.
Jovana Sekulic led the way with three goals, while Kayla Yelensky deposited a pair. Laura Larkin, Rachael Carver, Annie Robinson and Kate Mallery all found the back of the twine once in support of a nine-save performance by goalkeeper Lindsey Lucas.
Princeotn closed out the day by topping Villanova.
Ellingson’s unit started the contest with five straight goals and took a 6-2 halftime advantage. In the second half, the Wildcats cut the deficit to three, 7-4, but the Tigers countered with three straight and led 10-4 after 24 minutes. Princeton kept Villanova at bay in the fourth quarter to earn the victory.
Shanna Davidson (five), Yelensky (two) and Mallery (two) all posted multi-goal games to lead the way for the Tigers, while Carver, Larkin, Meera Burghardt and Kaila Carroll slipped in solo strikes. Lucas made 10 saves in collecting her second win of the day.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
