PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The No. 23-ranked Bucknell University women’s water polo team continued its strong start to the season after defeating Division III No. 3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, 7-5, in its third game of the Bruno Classic. The Bison then went on to defeat Siena College, 16-10, to complete a perfect weekend in Rhode Island. The Bison have now started a season 4-0 for the first time since 2011.
Defense ruled the first quarter, as the two teams exchanged just a single goal in the first period of play. Ally Furano, off of a record-breaking goal output against No. 24 Marist College the night before, opened the game with a goal for Bucknell at the 6:25 mark. However, Amelia Ayala of the Athenas found the equalizing goal with 3:51 left in the first.
Bucknell opened things up in the second period, taking a four-goal lead. After the two teams traded goals once more, the Bison scored four straight in the next four minutes to take a seemingly commanding 6-2 lead. The goals were scored by four different Bison over the stretch in A. Furano, Nina Benson, Paige Furano and Kali Hyham.
In the third quarter, the Athenas made a push, scoring three unanswered while shutting out the Bison over the frame to pull within 6-5. However, the Bison clamped down defensively in the fourth period, with A. Furano giving the Bucknell a two-goal cushion with a goal with 4:44 remaining. Freshman goalkeeper Georgia Lewis and the rest of the Bison defensive unit shut out the Athenas in the fourth en route to taking a 7-5 win and improving to 3-0 on the season.
After a tightly-contested game in the morning, Bucknell used an early offensive outburst to overwhelm Siena in the final game of the Bruno Classic. The Bison scored 11 of the game’s first 12 goals to take a commanding 11-1 lead in the second period, and never looked back as the team cruised to a 16-10 win.
A. Furano opened the scoring for the Bison before a goal by Siena’s Georgia Vargas tied the game at one. It would be all Bucknell for the rest of the half however, as the Bison went on to score ten straight before the Saints managed to score a goal on the powerplay just as the half expired. A. Furano scored five of her six goals on the day during the 10-0 run, while Hyham (three), Benson and Megan Lacroix each added goals to give Bucknell a commanding lead.
In addition to the freshman Lacroix, fellow freshmen Anna Bautista and Bella Moynihan each added goals in the second half as Bucknell scored 16 times in a game for the second time in the Tournament.
A. Furano scored six goals after scoring a school-record eight against Marist in the tournament opener to lead the Bison. Hyham also posted another strong game in scoring three goals and adding an assist. P. Furano added four assists and a goal in the win.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
