PRINCETON, N.J. — The No. 24-ranked Bucknell University women’s water polo team split a pair of Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) league games on the second day of the Princeton University Invitational. The Bison defeated Saint Francis University, 11-8, before falling to host/No. 21 Princeton, 14-3. The Bison now stand at 4-2 on the season.
The Bison came out firing on all cylinders against the Red Flash of Saint Francis, netting the first five goals of the game in the opening quarter to race out to a 5-0 lead after eight minutes. Five different goalscorers were on hand for the Bison in the first period, with Bella Moynihan, Chloe Smith, Isabelle Monaghan, Paige Furano and Larissa Hodzic each finding the back of the cage.
Bucknell continued that momentum in the second quarter, responding to a goal by the Red Flash two minutes into the frame with two unanswered tallies by Hodzic and Furano, the latter with 44 seconds left, to enter halftime with a six-goal advantage, 7-1.
Saint Francis cut into Bucknell’s lead in the third quarter, pulling within 9-5 with eight minutes to play. The Red Flash managed to come within three at the 5:34 mark of the fourth, 10-7, but Megan LaCroix scored an insurance goal just over a minute later to restore a four-goal advantage as Bucknell went on to take an 11-8 win.
Furano chipped in a season-best five goals in the win while dishing out three assists, while Hodzic added two goals. Annika Lampen made five saves in the victory.
The Bison dropped their second game of the day to the homestanding Tigers, 14-3.
The Tigers scored the first two goals of the game, but Bucknell’s Monaghan found the back of the cage from a long way out on a pass from LaCroix to halve the Princeton advantage at the 6:24 mark of the first.
However, it was all Princeton the rest of the half, as the Tigers scored seven straight to take a commanding 9-1 lead by the halftime break. Moynihan and Boati Motau netted Bucknell’s other two goals of the game in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, but the Tigers kept the foot on the gas in a 14-3 win.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
