LEWISBURG, Pa. — The No. 20-ranked Princeton University women’s water polo team defeated the Red Flash of Saint Francis University, 12-4, at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium in the opening round of the 2022 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division I Championship.
Courtesy the victory, the Tigers advance to a semifinal clash with No. 17 Harvard University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 23. Saint Francis falls into the consolation side of the bracket and will meet Mount St. Mary’s University – which dropped a 16-0 contest to Harvard in the opening game of the championship weekend – at 11:30 a.m. on April 23. The Red Flash will conclude is docket on Sunday, April 24, at 9:00 a.m. versus the loser of a first round game between the host Bison and No. 22 Brown University.
Facing Saint Francis with a berth in the semifinals and a shot a downing the Crimson for the first time in 2022 following 10-8 and 12-11 sudden death overtime defeats by Harvard, Princeton jumped out to an early lead versus the Red Flash.
Kayla Yelensky recorded a first-half hat trick, tallying two goals in the first quarter. Kate Mallery notched a score two minutes into the second quarter to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead, before Saint Francis answered back with their first goal of the contest.
Princeton added two more goals and the Orange & Black proceeded to carry a 5-2 advantage at the break.
The Tigers pulled away in the third quarter with a 5-2 scoring advantage on the way to a 12-4 victory.
Information courtesy Princeton University Athletics Communications
