Women's Water Polo Beats Harvard to Post Best-Ever Third-Place Finish at CWPA Championship

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Consecutive goals from Nina Benson, Paige Furano and Ally Furano flipped a one-goal fourth-quarter deficit into a two-goal lead, sending the Bucknell women's water polo team on its way to an 11-9 victory over No. 16 Harvard on Sunday in the third-place game at the Collegiate Water Polo Association Championships at the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center. The third-place performance, which matched the Bison's seed in the tournament, is the team's best-ever CWPA finish.

Bucknell, ranked 21st nationally entering the championship, opened with a 12-7 win over George Washington on Friday before falling to second-seeded Princeton 11-5 in the semifinals on Saturday. The third-place match marked the fourth 2019 meeting between the Bison and fourth-seeded Harvard, and Bucknell earned a season split between the two evenly matched teams. It was also the 25th win of the season for the Bison (25-12), one shy of the school record set in 2008. Bucknell's previous best Eastern/CWPA Championship finish was fourth in 2006.

Ally Furano wrapped up her record-breaking sophomore season with an eight-point performance, coming on four goals and four assists. Her younger sister Paige added three goals and an assist, and Benson also had a big day with three goals and three assists.

Neither team led by more than one goal through three quarters of this ultra-tight affair. It was a 7-7 game heading to the final period, and then Grace Thawley's tally 49 seconds into the quarter gave the Crimson what would be their final lead of the day. Benson finished a feed from Ally Furano to tie the game at 8-8, and then after the Bison killed off a Harvard power play, Sarah Mooney drew an exclusion. Moments later, Paige Furano fired home a shot to give the Bison a 9-8 lead.

Bison goalie Georgia Lewis made a big save on Sofia Carrera-Justiz to preserve the lead, and then Emily Konishi fed Ally Furano for a huge insurance goal with 56 seconds to play.

That goal proved big when Harvard came out of a timeout and picked up a goal from Kirstin Hong with 48 seconds to go, but then Paige Furano drew an ejection on Hong, the Bison melted the clock and put the final nail in the coffin with a Paige Furano goal with one second remaining.

Bucknell outshot Harvard 34-20 and went 2-for-3 in man-up situations, compared to the Crimson's 1-for-5. The Bison led 3-2 after one period and 4-3 at the half before Harvard outscored them 4-3 in a wild third quarter. Thawley and Olivia Price led the Crimson with three goals apiece.

Ally Furano crushed the school records for goals and points in a season. With her four goals on Sunday, Furano finished the season with 123, which is by far the most in team history. Aubrey Rowe held the previous mark with 75 in 2009. She recorded 19 points in the three games at the CWPA Championship, giving her a school-record 177 on the season. Rowe's 2009 total of 128 was the previous mark. Her 170 career goals are already 10th-most in Bucknell history, with two seasons still to come.

Konishi will graduate with her name high up in the Bucknell record book. She finishes with 179 goals and 171 assists for 350 points. She ranks second in career assists, fourth in points and eighth in goals.

At the conclusion of the tournament, the CWPA announced the All-Tournament Team which included A. Furano on the first team.

2019 Collegiate Water Polo Association Championship All-Tournament Team
Most Valuable Player:	Julia Sellers (University of Michigan)
Rookie of the Tournament:	Abby Andrews (University of Michigan)
Coach of the Tournament:	Derek Ellingson (Princeton University)

First Team
Heidi Ritner (Goalie)	University of Michigan
Maddy Steere	University of Michigan
Abby Andrews	University of Michigan
Julia Sellers	University of Michigan
Lindsey Kelleher	Princeton University
Ally Furano	Bucknell University
Kristen Hong	Harvard University

Second Team
Marissa Webb (Goalie)	Princeton University
Amy Castellano	Princeton University
Maddie Pendolino	Princeton University
Eliza Britt	Princeton University
Grace Thawley	Harvard University
Mathilde Ribordy	Harvard University
Carissa Perez	Brown University
Alana Ponce	George Washington University

Goals: A. Furano (4), Benson (3), P. Furano (3), Rojahn
Assists: A. Furano (4), Benson (3), Mooney (2), P. Furano, Konishi
Steals: P. Furano (3), Mooney (3), Konishi (2), Benson
Saves: Lewis (6)
Ejections Drawn: A. Furano, P. Furano, Mooney