ERIE, Pa. — The No. 23-ranked Bucknell University women’s water polo team started off the Mercyhurst Invitational with a 14-6 win over Gannon University before scoring a season-high 18 goals in an 18-14 win over the host Lakers in the nightcap. The Bison were spearheaded by five-goal games from juniors Kali Hyham and Ally Furano against the Golden Knights, before Hyham added a career-high six goals in the win over Mercyhurst.
The Bison used a 7-1 run to start the game to overpower the Golden Knights of Gannon, with each of the seven goals coming by way of Hyham or Furano. It took just 45 seconds for the Bison to open the scoring, as A. Furano scored the opener on an unassisted shot at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter.
A. Furano then assisted Hyham for Bucknell’s second at the 5:30 mark before scoring Bucknell’s third two minutes later. Gannon got on the board with three minutes left in the first, but it was all Bison the rest of the first, with Hyham scoring three straight goals on assists from A. Furano, Nina Benson and freshman Megan Lacroix.
A. Furano then scored the opening goal of the second with 7:26 to go in the first half as Bucknell raced out to a 7-1 lead in the second en route to taking a 12-4 lead at the halftime horn. Sheila Tomlin and Benson added goals in the second quarter for Bucknell’s first goals not by Hyham or A. Furano as Bucknell surged to an eight-goal lead at the break.
Anna Bautista and Gigi Rojahn added a goal each in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, as Bucknell improved to 17-0 all time against the Golden Knights.
The Bison had five players record two assists or more in A. Furano, Lacroix, Bella Moynihan, Rojahn and Benson.
Bucknell prevailed in its second contest of the day against Mercyhurst in a high-scoring affair. The combined 32 goals between the two teams is the highest amount in a game involving Bucknell since the two teams last faced each other on February 16, 2019, a 21-12 Bucknell win.
Bucknell raced out to a 5-1 lead in this one early in the second quarter. Katie Jo Nedrow opened the scoring for the Bison, before Marcela Herrera added Bucknell’s second. A. Furano and Hyham then scored before Paige Furano capped off Bucknell’s run with a goal as Bucknell notched five different goalscorers.
Bucknell extended its lead to 8-2 with two more goals by Hyham sandwiched around a penalty shot by A. Furano as Bucknell took an 8-3 lead into halftime.
Mercyhurst pulled within four goals, 9-5, with 6:37 remaining in the third quarter, but three straight goals, two by Hyham, helped Bucknell use a 3-0 run to pull away once more.
However, Mercyhurst battled back, pulling within two goals, 15-13, with 3:27 to go. Two big goals from Benson 46 seconds apart however helped Bucknell gain a four-goal lead with 2:30 to play. Hyham scored her sixth of the day with 1:41 to go to seal Bucknell’s win and an 8-1 start to the season for the Orange and Blue.
Hyham’s six goals were a career-high, while Benson provided a season-best four goals. P. Furano added a hat trick as seven different Bison recorded a goal.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
