LEWISBURG, Pa. – No. 24-ranked Brown University women’s water polo extended its win streak to six games with back-to-back Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) league victories over Saint Francis University, 7-3, and host Bucknell University, 12-7, at Kinney Natatorium.
The six-game win streak is the longest since the start of the 2020 season when the Bears began the campaign 7-0.
“It was a good day today against two quality conference opponents,” said Felix Mercado, Head Coaching Chair for Water Polo. “Defense was our focus point going into this weekend and so far, so good. We look forward to competing against one of the best offenses in our conference in Princeton tomorrow.”
Goalkeeper Shauna Franke picked up both wins.
Taking on the Red Flash of Saint Francis in Brown’s opening league game of the 2022 season, the Bears claimed a 3-0 lead through the opening quarter.
Zoe King led things off with a goal with 6:53 remaining, followed by Sierra Martin‘s first of two goals with 3:20 to go. Emily Suong made it 3-0 Bears as Brown built an early lead it would not relinquish.
Saint Francis found the net with 5:58 remaining in the half, but Dagmara Czajka‘s lone shot returned the Brown lead to three at 4-1.
The Red Flash cut the Bears’ edge to one at the half with two goals to close the second quarter and move within 4-3.
However, Brown did not allow another Saint Francis goal and tallied three markers in the third quarter. Claire Pisani scored twice in the frame with a Martin goal sandwiched between her two for a 7-3 Brown lead.
Marley Presiado recorded two saves and Franke posted seven saves for the win. Siena Berry finished with two assists and three others picked up one apiece. Lily Weiser, King and Suong collected two steals with four adding one each. Defender Sophie Golub finished with two blocks.
Taking on the homestanding Bison, Bucknell struck first with a goal at the 6:28 mark. The first quarter, however, was closed by back-to-back Bears goals by Weiser (2:58) and Martin (0:30) to provide the ursine a 2-1 lead after eight minutes of action.
Brown added three more for five unanswered goals by Czajka (6:29), Tallulah Clancy (4:46) and King (3:35) to pull away from Bucknell.
The Bison cut the lead to three, but Brown took its largest lead with two goals in the final minute of the first half by Martin (0:44) and Golub (0:02).
Brown scored four goals in the third quarter to Bucknell’s two and added one more in the over the span of the final eight minutes to begin CWPA play with a 2-0 record.
Martin led the Bears with three goals and added an assist and steal. Wesier, Golub and Pisani registered two goals apiece, while Katie Klein and King each posted two assists. Czajka collected four steals and King added three.
Presiado finished with four saves and Franke had six for the win.
Release courtesy Brown University Athletics Communications
